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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 1,009 records · Page 56
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2018

Influence of Emissions and Aqueous Processing on Particles Containing Black Carbon in a Polluted Urban Environment: Insights From a Soot Particle-Aerosol Mass Spectrometer

Inorganic and organic coatings on black carbon (BC) particles can enhance light absorption and affect atmospheric lifetimes of BC-containing particles and thus have significant implications for climate. To study the physical and chemical characteristics of atmospheric BC and BC-associated coatings, a soot particle-aerosol mass spectrometer was deployed during the winter of 2014–2015 in Fresno, a city located in the San Joaquin Valley of California, to selectively analyze BC-containing particles. Comparing soot particle-aerosol mass spectrometer measurements to those from the collocated single-particle soot photometer (SP2) and high-resolution aerosol mass spectrometer, we found that 17% of total submicrometer aerosol mass was associated with BC-containing particles, suggesting that a majority of the fine particles in Fresno contained no BC. Most BC-containing particles appeared to be associated with residential wood burning and vehicular traffic. These particles typically had a bulk-average mass ratio of coating to BC (R coat/rBC ) less than 2. However, during periods of persistent fog larger R coat/rBC values were observed, with the coatings primarily composed of secondary inorganic and organic components that likely resulted from aqueous-phase processing. Specifically, compared to periods with less fog, the BC coating increased in concentration and contained a larger fraction of nitrate and oxidized organic matter. The size distributions of BC and associated organic coating were generally centered around 300 nm in vacuum aerodynamic diameter. However, during foggy periods BC had an additional peak at ~400 nm and organics and nitrate displayed a prominent mode in the accumulation size range.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Structure, Function, and Application of Self–Healing Adhesives from Mistletoe Viscin

Berries from the European Mistletoe (Viscum album) possess a sticky tissue called viscin that facilitates adhesion and germination onto host trees. Recent studies of viscin have demonstrated its adhesive capacity on a range of natural and synthetic surfaces including wood, skin, metals, and plastic. Yet, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, an investigation of the adhesive performance of mistletoe viscin is performed, demonstrating its hygroscopic nature and ability to self-heal following adhesive failure. It is identified that adhesion originates from a water-soluble adhesive component that can be extracted, isolated, and characterized independently. Lap shear mechanical testing indicates that the mistletoe adhesive extract (MAE) outperforms native viscin tissue, as well as gum arabic and arabinogalactan—common plant-based adhesives. Furthermore, humidity uptake experiments reveal that MAE can reversibly absorb nearly 100% of its mass in water from the atmosphere. In-depth spectroscopic and mass spectrometry investigations reveal a composition consisting primarily of an atypical arabinogalactan, with additional sugar alcohols. Finally, several proof-of-concept applications are demonstrated using MAE for hygro-responsive reversible adhesion between various surfaces including skin, plastic, PDMS, and paper, revealing that MAE holds potential as a biorenewable and reusable adhesive for applications in cosmetics, packaging, and potentially, tissue engineering.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Thermal Management by Engineering the Alignment of Nanocellulose

One of the grand current research challenges is to improve the energy efficiency of residential and commercial buildings, which cumulatively consume more than 40% of the energy generated globally. In addition to improving the comfort of the inhabitants and mitigating the growing energy consumption problem, new building materials and technologies could provide a safe strategy for geoengineering to mitigate global climate change. Herein, recent progress in developing such advanced materials from nanocellulose, which is often derived from wood or even dirty feedstocks like waste, is reviewed. By using chemical and bacteria-enabled processing, nanocellulose can be used to fabricate broadband photonic reflectors, thermally super-insulating aerogels, solar gain regulators, and low-emissivity coatings, with potential applications in windows, roofs, walls, and other components of buildings envelopes. These material developments draw inspiration from advanced energy management found in nature, such as the nanoporous photonic structures that evolved in cuticles of beetles. Fabrication of such materials takes advantage of mesoscale liquid crystalline self-assembly, which allows for pre-designed control of cellulose nanoparticle orientations at the mesoscale. Finally, with the potential fully realized, such materials could one day transform the current energy-lossy buildings into energy plants on Earth and possibly even enable extraterrestrial habitats.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Directing Assembly of Mesoscale Multi‐Shell Morphologies of DNA Origami Crystals

Nature builds hierarchically ordered materials, such as seashells, wood, and bones, through spatially and temporally regulated growth. Mimicking such a level of control in synthetic systems remains challenging, particularly in achieving multiscale organizations with prescribed nanoscale arrangements and desired material morphologies. In this study, we introduce a DNA-based self-assembly strategy for constructing diverse multi-shell mesoscale morphologies from nanoscale lattices, enabling prescribed structural, and compositional 3D material patterns. Using DNA origami frames as modular monomers, we direct anisotropic epitaxial growth through addressable DNA frame binding motifs and encapsulate nanoparticles (NPs) in desired 3D patterns. Sequential monomer addition under thermodynamically favorable conditions enables shell growth through heterogeneous nucleation while minimizing unwanted homogeneous nucleation. Here, we demonstrate that DNA-encoded addressability enables epitaxial shell growth along specific lattice directions, yielding crystals with multilayered mesoscale organization, including tube-like (sushi roll) and plate-like (macaron) morphologies. Shell-specific NP configurations and compositions are achieved through addressable and differentiated placement of NPs within each shell, as validated by small-angle x-ray scattering and cross-sectional scanning transmission electron microscopy. We further demonstrate addressable NP release and reveal that shells modulate release kinetics. Together, these findings establish a platform for fabricating DNA origami crystals with programmable mesoscale morphologies, nanoscale structure, composition, and transport properties.

3D patterning↗
DOE OSTI2018

Chinese Ink: A Powerful Photothermal Material for Solar Steam Generation

Solar steam generation offers signifcant promise in alleviating fresh water crises, particularly in regions with accessible seawater and abundant insolation. Affordable, efficient, and environmentally friendly photothermal materials are needed to fabricate sunlight-driven evaporation devices. In this work, Chinese ink, a carbon-based paint used in traditional painting and calligraphy, is readily coated on diverse substrates and stabilized by atomic layer deposition (ALD) for solar steam generation. The ALD/Chinese ink coating exhibits strong and broad light absorption from the NIR to UV regions. Both ALD/Chinese-ink-coated membranes and wood display excellent photothermal properties and superior evaporation performance under simulated sunlight. This study demonstrates the potential of ALD/Chinese ink coating to achieve higher evaporation rate and efficiency by utilizing substrates with rough, structured surfaces and low thermal conductivity.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Exploring the Mineral Composition, Structure, and Function of a Freshwater Bivalve Adhesive

Abstract Etheria elliptica is a freshwater oyster that produces an adhesive that hardens underwater, allowing them to attach to other oysters, rocks, wood, and other natural substrates, producing complex oyster bed communities. Despite the importance of the adhesive in oyster bed formation, little is known about its chemical composition, structure, or mechanical properties. Through a combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x‐ray photoemission electron microscopy (X‐PEEM), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, microhardness testing, and nanoindentation, it is found that the oyster adhesive consists entirely of aragonite nanoparticles that clump together into crystallites of varied shape, size, and orientation. The crystallite clumping density varies from the exterior of the adhesive to the interior, with the adhesive closest to the prismatic layer generally being denser. With this variation in density comes a variation in material properties with the exterior adhesive layer being softer and more flexible and the interior adhesive layer being harder and less elastic, or more similar to the prismatic and nacre shell structures produced by the E. elliptica . The resultant material exhibits varied materials properties, despite similar mineral composition.

Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2019

Comprehensive experimental investigation on biomass-glass beads binary fluidization: A data set for CFD model validation

Fluidization behavior of biomass and glass beads binary mixtures in a bubbling fluidized bed was experimentally investigated. Mixtures containing different mass fraction of Loblolly Pine white wood and glass beads were fluidized at different fluidization velocities. The particle properties were characterized in a QICPIC that uses a dynamic image processing method to measure both particle size and sphericity. The minimum fluidization velocity was determined using the pressure drop method. An image processing method was developed to capture the dynamic expanded bed height at a very high frequency. The effect of biomass mass fraction and inlet gas velocity on mixing and segregation behavior was studied and analyzed through pressure drop measurements. Pressure drop fluctuations and expanded bed height fluctuations via fast Fourier transform were analyzed and compared. Here, the complete and accurate experimental data reported in this study could provide a benchmark data set for various computational fluid dynamics models validation, calibration, and identification.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2014

Characterization and analysis of the molecular weight of lignin for biorefining studies

The molecular weight of lignin is a fundamental property that infl uences the recalcitrance of biomass and the valorization of lignin. The determination of the molecular weight of lignin in native biomass is dependent on the bioresources used and the isolation and purifi cation procedures employed. The three most commonly employed isolation methods are milled wood lignin (MWL), cellulolytic enzyme lignin (CEL), and enzymatic mild acidolysis lignin (EMAL). Common characterization techniques for determining the molecular weight of lignin will be addressed, with an emphasis on gel permeation chromatography (GPC). This review also examines the mechanisms behind several biological, physical, and chemical pre-treatments and their impact on the molecular weight of lignin. The number average molecular weight (Mn), weight average molecular weight (Mw) and polydispersity index (D) all vary in magnitude depending on the biomass source, pre-treatment conditions, and isolation method. Additionally, there is a growing body of literature that supports changes in the molecular weight of lignin in response to genetic modifi cations in the lignin biosynthetic pathways. This review summarizes different procedures for obtaining the molecular weight of lignin that have been used in recent years and highlight future opportunities for applications of lignin.

Tolbert, Allison↗
DOE OSTI2018

A stochastic techno-economic analysis of shrub willow production using EcoWillow 3.0S: A Stochastic Techno-Economic Analysis of Shrub Willow Production Using EcoWillow 3.0S

EcoWillow 3.0S is a techno-economic analysis (TEA) tool that calculates realistic willow biomass production costs using data from field trials of willow production in New York State. The model represents the input parameters for diesel fuel price, wood price, and willow yield as data-derived probability distributions rather than as single values. This study uses EcoWillow 3.0S with Oracle Crystal Ball to perform a stochastic TEA of shrub willow production in the Northeastern United States. Two outputs obtained from this model are a 24-year net present value (NPV) and minimum selling price (MSP) of shrub willow production under price and yield uncertainty. The MSP for dry willow ranges within a 95% confidence interval from $\$ 59$. -$\$ 102$/Mg. The NPV, also within a 95% confidence interval, ranges from -$\$ 153$ 819 to $\$ 207$ 129 for 40 ha of willow harvested seven times over 24 years. The relevance of this study is to utilize the TEA methodology to assess the financial feasibility of shrub willow production as a bioenergy feedstock. The results of this analysis provide the bioenergy field with NPV and MSP probability distributions on shrub willow production that have previously been absent from the refereed literature. Using data collected from field operations over a number of years, EcoWillow 3.0S captures some of the key inputs that influence the variation in the delivered cost of willow biomass crops.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Techno-economic comparison of three scenarios for upgrading a hemicellulose-rich pre-pulping extract to mixed-alcohols: Techno-Economic Comparison of Three Scenarios for Upgrading a Hemicellulose-rich Pre-pulping Extract to Mixed-Alcohols

Conversion of a hemicellulose-rich pre-pulping extract into long-chain alcohols could alleviate problems facing the liquid fuel supply and could boost the revenues of pulp mills. Kraft pulping requires only the cellulose fraction of wood, leaving much of the hemicellulose available for extraction and subsequent conversion into gasoline-blendable alcohols. Additionally, three possible pathways for upgrading the hemicelluloses are: CKA: carboxylates → ketones → alcohols; CEA: carboxylates → esters → alcohols, and CHEA: carboxylates → acids → esters → alcohols. The scenarios were modeled using AspenPlus® to determine material and energy balances. Economic parameters were determined using the Aspen Process Economic Analyzer. The minimum ethanol selling price (MESP) for a 1000 tpd facility, which takes into account the operating and capital costs, was found to be: 3.31 dollars for CKA, 4.56 dollars for CEA, and 4.26 dollars for the CHEA. The cost of hydrogen necessary for hydrogenolysis proved to be a notable expense

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Enhancing hydrogen‐dependent growth of and carbon dioxide fixation by Clostridium ljungdahlii through nitrate supplementation

Abstract Synthesis gas (syngas) fermentation via the Wood–Ljungdahl pathway is receiving growing attention as a possible platform for the fixation of and renewable production of fuels and chemicals. However, the pathway operates near the thermodynamic limit of life, resulting in minimal adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production and long doubling times. This calls into question the feasibility of producing high‐energy compounds at industrially relevant levels. In this study, we investigated the possibility of co‐utilizing nitrate as an inexpensive additional electron acceptor to enhance ATP production during ‐dependent growth of Clostridium ljungdahlii , Moorella thermoacetica , and Acetobacterium woodii . In contrast to other acetogens tested, growth rate and final biomass titer were improved for C. ljungdahlii growing on a mixture of and when supplemented with nitrate. Transcriptomic analysis, labeling, and an electron balance were used to understand how electron flux was partitioned between and nitrate. We further show that, with nitrate supplementation, the ATP/adenosine diphosphate (ADP) ratio and acetyl‐CoA pools were increased by fivefold and threefold, respectively, suggesting that this strategy could be useful for the production of ATP‐intensive heterologous products from acetyl‐CoA. Finally, we propose a pathway for enhanced ATP production from nitrate and use this as a basis to calculate theoretical yields for a variety of products. This study demonstrates a viable strategy for the decoupling of ATP production from carbon dioxide fixation, which will serve to significantly improve the fixation rate and the production metrics of other chemicals from and in this host.

Emerson, David F.↗
DOE OSTI2016

Pyrolysis of ground pine chip and ground pellet particles

In addition to particle size, biomass density influences heat and mass transfer rates during the thermal treatment processes. In this research, thermal behaviour of ground pine chip particles and ground pine pellet particles in the range of 0.25–5 mm was investigated. A single particle from ground pellets was almost 3 to 4 times denser than a single particle from ground chips at a similar size and volume of particle. Temperature was ramped up from room temperature (~25 °C) to 600 °C with heating rates of 10, 20, 30, and 50 °C/min. Pellet particles took 25–88 % longer time to dry than the chip particles. Microscopic examination of 3 mm and larger chip particles showed cracks during drying. No cracks were observed for pellet particles. The mass loss due to treatment at temperatures higher than 200 °C was about 80% both for chip and pellet particles. It took 4 min for chip and pellet particles to lose roughly 63% of their dry mass at a heating rate of 50 °C/min. The SEM structural analysis showed enlarged pores and cracks in cell walls of the pyrolyzed wood chips. As a result, these pores were not observed in pyrolyzed pellet particles.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Partitioning assimilatory nitrogen uptake in streams: an analysis of stable isotope tracer additions across continents

Headwater streams remove, transform, and store inorganic nitrogen (N) delivered from surrounding watersheds, but excessive N inputs from human activity can saturate removal capacity. Most research has focused on quantifying N removal from the water column over short periods and in individual reaches, and these ecosystem-scale measurements suggest that assimilatory N uptake accounts for most N removal. However, cross-system comparisons addressing the relative role of particular biota responsible for incorporating inorganic N into biomass are lacking. In this paper, we assess the importance of different primary uptake compartments on reach-scale ammonium (NH 4 + -N) uptake and storage across a wide range of streams varying in abundance of biota and local environmental factors. We analyzed data from 17 15 N-NH 4 + tracer addition experiments globally, and found that assimilatory N uptake by autotrophic compartments (i.e., epilithic biofilm, filamentous algae, bryophytes/macrophytes) was higher but more variable than for heterotrophic microorganisms colonizing detrital organic matter (i.e., leaves, small wood, and fine particles). Autotrophic compartments played a disproportionate role in N uptake relative to their biomass, although uptake rates were similar when we rescaled heterotrophic assimilatory N uptake associated only with live microbial biomass. Assimilatory NH 4 + -N uptake, either estimated as removal from the water column or from the sum uptake of all individual compartments, was four times higher in open- than in closed-canopy streams. Using Bayesian Model Averaging, we found that canopy cover and gross primary production (GPP) controlled autotrophic assimilatory N uptake while ecosystem respiration (ER) was more important for the heterotrophic contribution. The ratio of autotrophic to heterotrophic N storage was positively correlated with metabolism (GPP: ER), which was also higher in open- than in closed-canopy streams. Our analysis shows riparian canopy cover influences the relative abundance of different biotic uptake compartments and thus GPP:ER. As such, the simple categorical variable of canopy cover explained differences in assimilatory N uptake among streams at the reach scale, as well as the relative roles of autotrophs and heterotrophs in N storage. In conclusion, this synthesis links cumulative N uptake by stream biota to reach-scale N demand and provides a mechanistic and predictive framework for estimating and modeling N cycling in other streams.

15N↗
DOE OSTI2017

Terrestrial acidification and ecosystem services: effects of acid rain on bunnies, baseball, and Christmas trees

Often termed “acid rain,” combined nitrogen and sulfur deposition can directly and indirectly impact the condition and health of forest ecosystems. Researchers use critical loads (CLs) to describe response thresholds, and recent studies on acid-sensitive biological indicators show that forests continue to be at risk from terrestrial acidification. However, rarely are impacts translated into changes in “ecosystem services” that impact human well-being. Further, the relevance of this research to the general public is seldom communicated in terms that can motivate action to protect valuable resources. To understand how changes in biological indicators affect human well-being, we used the STEPS (Stressor–Ecological Production function–final ecosystem Services) Framework to quantitatively and qualitatively link CL exceedances to ecosystem service impacts. We specified the cause-and-effect ecological processes linking changes in biological indicators to final ecosystem services. The Final Ecosystem Goods and Services Classification System (FEGS-CS) was used within the STEPS Framework to classify the ecosystem component and the beneficiary class that uses or values the component. We analyzed two acid-sensitive tree species, balsam fir (Abies balsamea) and white ash (Fraxinus americana), that are common in northeastern USA. These well-known species provide habitat for animals and popular forest products that are relatable to a broad audience. We identified 160 chains with 10 classes of human beneficiaries for balsam fir and white ash combined, concluding that there are resources at risk that the public may value. Two stories resulting from these explorations into the cascading effects of acid rain on terrestrial resources are ideal for effective science communication: the relationship between (1) balsam fir as a popular Christmas tree and habitat for the snowshoe hare, a favorite of wildlife viewers, and (2) white ash because it is used for half of all baseball bats, fine wood products, and musical instruments. Thus, rather than focusing on biological indicators that may only be understood or appreciated by specific stakeholders or experts, this approach extends the analysis to include impacts on FEGS and humans. It also lays the foundation for developing stakeholder-specific narratives, quantitative measures of endpoints, and for conducting demand-based valuations of affected ecosystem services.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Vertebrate and invertebrate competition for carrion in human‐impacted environments depends on abiotic factors

Abstract Human altered landscapes have caused declines in the diversity of wildlife where behaviorally plastic species (i.e., mesocarnivores and invasive species) tend to monopolize these areas and consume predictable and readily accessible food resources, such as human food waste and carrion. Increased consumption of carrion by vertebrates and invasive invertebrate species can alter population dynamics of native necrophagous insects relying on these resources. We tested the hypothesis that vertebrate scavengers and invasive species reduce blow fly (1) ability to use carrion and (2) reproduction in human‐impacted environments in central Texas, USA, with season, habitat (field and wooded landscapes), and carrion type (species of carrion and coat color) acting synergistically. Vertebrate scavengers in this habitat, of which 75% of the documented species were mesocarnivores and obligate scavengers, consumed 100% of carrion during the winter and 62% during summer despite having low species richness (2–5 species). Of the remaining carcasses available for arthropod activity during summer, the invasive red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), monopolized 34%, and blow flies (e.g., Lucilia eximia and Chrysomya rufifacies [Diptera: Calliphoridae]) were only able to colonize 25%. Approximately 90% of carrion that was utilized by blow flies was co‐colonized by fire ants, and subsequent production of adult blow flies experienced up to a ninefold reduction in production compared with carcasses that were not scavenged by vertebrates or fire ants. Our results demonstrate oviposition resources used by blow flies in environments altered by human activity are reduced significantly by vertebrate scavengers and an invasive ant species. Future research should determine whether competitive interactions between vertebrate and invasive ant competitors for access to carrion resources have population‐level impacts to blow flies in human‐mediated ecosystems, or whether blow flies are able to shift to other resources to maintain sustainable populations and continue providing ecosystem services, such as pollination.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

A primer on forest structure measurement with lidar for ecologists

Light detection and ranging (lidar) technology has fundamentally advanced the way we measure forest structure, facilitating new insights into ecological processes. Lidar for forest ecology applications is deployed on multiple types of platforms that operate from the ground, air, or space, and each has associated strengths and limitations. Ideally, the choice of what kind of lidar to use in a particular study should be guided by the ecological question of interest; however, practical considerations of cost, data availability, and processing tools can be equally important. This synthesis is a practical introduction to how different lidar platforms characterize forest structure (e.g., tree size/location, wood volume, branching structure, aboveground biomass, leaf properties), designed for a general audience of ecologists (not remote sensing scientists) seeking an accessible introduction to the use of lidar. We also provide examples of novel ecological insights from recent lidar research and describe current limitations and areas of expected improvement. Last, we include an appendix of data collected from terrestrial, mobile, unoccupied aerial system, airplane, and satellite lidar platforms within a common temperate forest area, with associated code to allow new lidar users to visualize and manipulate data in R.

Cushman, KC [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000234641151)↗