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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 1,063 records · Page 59
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Deposition and dielectric characterization of highly oriented V 2 O 5 thin films

The possibility of ferroelectricity in orthorhombic V 2 O 5 thin flms was investigated. Films were deposited via either a chemical solution deposition (CSD) route or by RF magnetron sputtering. Highly (001) oriented V 2 O 5 flms were achieved with both deposition routes at temperatures as low as 300°C. No evidence for ferroelectricity was observed, even in flms which had been doped to provide local nuclei for polarization reversal. Loss originated from mid-gap trap states stemming from oxygen vacancies that were observed with photoluminescence, supplemented by piezoresponse force microscopy measurements. Furthermore, these trap states may have helped mimic ferroelectricity in previous reports on V 2 O 5 .

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Silver nanowire-indium zinc oxide composite flexible transparent conducting electrodes made by spin-coating and photonic curing

Flexible transparent conducting electrodes (TCE) play a critical role in modern technologies. Eliminating the high-temperature annealing of vacuum- or solution-deposited films will increase production throughput and lower the cost of the final products. Photonic curing uses intense pulses of broadband light to induce material transformations instead of heat. In this work, we combine solution deposition and photonic curing, replacing thermal annealing, to fabricate flexible composite TCE films on plastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates. The composite TCE films are composed of spin-coated silver nanowire-indium zinc oxide layers. Further, the TCE films’ electrical, optical, and morphological properties are investigated and compared to those of commercially available PET/TCE. A sheet resistance of 15 Ω/sq and an average transmittance from 400 – 700 nm of 77% are achieved with the spin-coated and photonic-cured composite flexible TCE films.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

M4SF-22LL010301062-Surface Complexation Database and Hybrid ML Model Development for GDSA

This progress report (Level 4 Milestone Number M4SF-22LL010301062) summarizes research conducted at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) within the Argillite International Collaborations Activity Number Activity SF-22LL01030106. The activity is focused on our long-term commitment to engaging our partners in international nuclear waste repository research. The focus of this milestone is the establishment of international collaborations for surface complexation modeling and the associated impacts of unlocking larger, community-based datasets. More specifically, we are developing a database framework for Spent Fuel and Waste and Science Technology (SFWST) that is aligned with the Helmholtz Zentrum Dresden Rossendorf (HZDR) sorption database development group in support of the database needs of the SFWST program.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2022

Nuclear Global Talent Development Program (Final Report)

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have developed sorption database named as L-SCIE (LLNL Surface Complexation/Ion Exchange). This framework (L-SCIE) includes not only a community database of sorption data but also a fitting workflow to produce optimized surface complexation reaction constants. Through this fellowship program we have updated the L-SCIE database for selenium (Se) sorption and potentiometric titration data of iron oxides. In addition, the relevant surface complexation models (SCMs) have been updated and details in model construction are given in the following section.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2023

Advanced Mixed-Mode Pixel Array Detector for X-rays Above 20 keV (Final Report)

The objective of the work reported upon was to perform research and development and test advanced prototype imaging x-ray detectors needed to meet pressing scientific research needs at U.S. x-ray synchrotron user facilities. The high x-ray brightness of the Nation’s x-ray synchrotron sources in the DOE National Laboratories holds promise to advance science and technology in a broad range of fundamental and applied disciplines, including physics, chemistry, biomedical areas and engineering. At present, progress in many areas is being limited not by the x-ray source but by the lack of imaging x-ray detectors capable of meeting experimental needs. Specifically, there is pressing need for imaging detectors with high dynamic range, low noise, high frame rates and the ability to capture x-ray images with x-rays of energy > 20 keV. This Final Technical Report summarizes progress made at Cornell University on novel integrating x-ray detectors that address these characteristics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Surface Complexation/Ion Exchange Hybrid Model for Radionuclide Sorption to Clay Minerals (M4SF-23LL010301062)

This progress report (Level 4 Milestone Number M4SF-23LL010301062) summarizes research conducted at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) within the Argillite International Collaborations Activity Number SF-23LL01030106. The activity is focused on our long-term commitment to engaging our partners in international nuclear waste repository research. The focus of this milestone is the establishment of international collaborations for surface complexation modeling and the associated impacts of unlocking larger, community-based datasets. More specifically, we are developing a database framework for Spent Fuel and Waste and Science Technology (SFWST) that is aligned with the Helmholtz Zentrum Dresden Rossendorf (HZDR) sorption database development group in support of the database needs of the SFWST program. In our FY22 effort, we described a detailed analysis of U(VI) sorption to quartz through both traditional surface complexation modeling and through a hybrid ML framework. In FY23, effort was placed on publication of these results and expansion of the LLNL surface complexation and ion exchange database (L-SCIE) in order to assess mineral-based radionuclide retardation under a wider variety of geochemical conditions (e.g., ionic strength, varying electrolyte compositions). Efforts were initiated to expand L-SCIE to include radionuclide surface complexation and ion exchange to clays that are relevant to subsurface geochemical processes occurring at nuclear waste repositories. In particular, a large source of sorption data for clays resides at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) (work primarily by Bradbury and Baeyens) and we initiated discussions on how to retrieve those data and apply FAIR principles to those datasets. In addition to L-SCIE development, two hybrid models that incorporate AI/ML were investigated and compared to discern the most promising approaches for accurate and precise estimations of radionuclide retardation. Key considerations for future model development include (1) the ability to reduce computational burden on determining retardation coefficients for PA and (2) the ability to quantify and predict radionuclide-mineral partitioning at a more efficient, rapid pace due to automated workflows. Upon the careful consideration of the most effective modeling approaches, we are identifying ways to implement these approaches into PA. Ultimately, the data science-based workflows will provide a major incentive for other institutions to adopt a FAIR-formatted, interoperable database. LLNL will play a key role in disseminating sorption data and acting as good data stewards by updating the database in a consistent format and assessing the quality of the newly assimilated data in an organized fashion. To this end, all data and workflows are open access and made available on the LLNL Seaborg research website (https://seaborg.llnl.gov/resources/geochemical-databases-modeling-codes).

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2023

Management and International Sorption Model Collaboration (M4SF-23LL010302062-NEA-TDB)

This progress report (Level 4 Milestone Number M4SF-23LL010302062) summarizes research conducted at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) within the Crystalline International Collaborations Activity Number SF-23LL01030206. The activity is focused on our long-term commitment of engaging our partners in international nuclear waste repository research. This includes participation in the Nuclear Energy Agency Thermochemical Database (NEA-TDB) Project and development of methodologies for integrating US and international thermodynamic databases for use in SFWST Generic Disposal System Assessment (GDSA) efforts. A continuing focus for FY23 efforts has been to support the US participation in the NEA-TDB effort (Mavrik Zavarin replaced Cindy Atkins-Duffin on the NEA-TDB Management Board (MB) and Executive Group (EG)) and developing mechanisms for integration of NEA-TDB thermochemical data with LLNL’s SUPCRTNE thermodynamic database that supports the SFWST GDSA activities. This effort is coordinated with the Argillite work package SUPCRTNE database development efforts. The goal is to provide a downloadable database that will be hosted on a LLNL website which integrates NEA-TDB data into the LLNL SUPCRTNE database where appropriate. As part of our international activities, we continue our effort to integrate international sorption databases into L-SCIE (Zavarin et al., 2022b). We presented opportunities to include sorption in the next phase of NEA-TDB efforts at the April 2023 EG meeting in Paris. FY23 efforts focused on ensuring interoperable database development across multiple international database development activities. The overall goal is to produce an open source database that can be shared and integrated with multiple nuclear waste programs internationally and harness modern data science workflows and algorithms to incorporate these new approaches into reactive transport and performance assessment models. In collaboration with our Helmholtz Zentrum Dresden Rossendorf partners, we recently demonstrated the power of FAIR open source databases by fitting iron oxide (hydrous ferric oxide, goethite, hematite, and magnetite) protolysis constants to all available L-SCIE data. The results were submitted as a manuscript to J. Colloid Interface Science. This work will inform future metal sorption studies on a variety of iron oxides in order to discern the most appropriate acidity constants and surface complexation modeling constructs to account for pH-dependent mineral surface charge behavior. This work also explored automated surface complexation model development workflows in order to generate higher throughput model input files for a more facile incorporation into GDSA activities.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2023

Evaluation of Nuclear Spent Fuel Disposal in Clay-Bearing Rock - Process Model Development and Experimental Studies

This report represents the milestone deliverable M2SF-23SN010301072 “Evaluation of Nuclear Spent Fuel Disposal in Clay-Bearing Rock - Process Model Development and Experimental Studies” The report provides a status update of FY23 activities for the work package Argillite Disposal work packages for the DOE-NE Spent Fuel Waste Form Science and Technology (SFWST) Program. Clay-rich geological media (often referred as shale or argillite) are among the most abundant type of sedimentary rock near the Earth’s surface. Argillaceous rock formations have the following advantageous attributes for deep geological nuclear waste disposal: widespread geologic occurrence, found in stable geologic settings, low permeability, self-sealing properties, low effective diffusion coefficient, high sorption capacity, and have the appropriate depth and thickness to host nuclear waste repository concepts. The DOE R&D program under the Spent Fuel Waste Science Technology (SFWST) campaign has made key progress (through experiment, modeling, and testing) in the study of chemical and physical phenomena that could impact the long-term safety assessment of heat-generating nuclear waste disposition in clay/shale/argillaceous rock. International collaboration activities comprising field-scale heater tests, field data monitoring, and laboratory-scale experiments provide key information on changes to the engineered barrier system (EBS) material exposed high thermal loads. Moreover, consideration of direct disposal of large capacity dual-purpose canisters (DPCs) as part of the back-end SNF waste disposition strategy has generated interest in improving our understanding of the effects of elevated temperatures on the engineered barrier system (EBS) design concepts. Chemical and structural analyses of sampled bentonite material from laboratory tests at elevated temperatures are key to the characterization of thermal effects affecting bentonite clay barrier performance. The knowledge provided by these experiments is crucial to constrain the extent of sacrificial zones in the EBS design during the thermal period. Thermal, hydrologic, mechanical, and chemical (THMC) data collected from heater tests and laboratory experiments have been used in the development, validation, and calibration of THMC simulators to model near-field coupled processes. This information leads to the development of simulation approaches to assess issues on coupled processes involving porous media flow, transport, geomechanical phenomena, chemical interactions with barrier/geologic materials, and the development of EBS concepts. These lines of knowledge are central to the design of deep geological backfilled repository concepts where temperature plays a key role in the EBS behavior, potential interactions with host rock, and long-term performance in the safety assessment.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2024

M3SF-24LL010301062-Surface Complexation/Ion Exchange Data Integration for Radionuclide Sorption to Clay Minerals

This progress report (Level 3 Milestone Number M3SF-24LL010301062) summarizes research conducted at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) within the Argillite International Collaborations Work Package SF-24LL01030106. The activity is focused on our long-term commitment to engaging our partners in international nuclear waste repository research. The focus of this milestone is the establishment of international collaborations for sorption modeling and the associated impacts of unlocking larger, community-based datasets. More specifically, we are developing a database framework for Spent Fuel and Waste and Science Technology (SFWST) that is aligned with the Helmholtz Zentrum Dresden Rossendorf (HZDR) and other international sorption database development groups in support of the database needs of the SFWST program.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2025

Innovative Pathways to Net Zero Emissions: Subnational Strategies for Distributed Solar Deployment to Improve Grid Quality and Reduce Energy Costs in Argentina

Through Net Zero World, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the National Energy Secretariat of Argentina, La Pampa's Energy and Mining Secretariat, Pampetrol, and the Administracion Provincial de Energia de La Pampa (APELP) conducted an integrated analysis of the power system of the La Pampa province in Argentina. The study assessed the impact that solar and battery energy storage systems could have on the region grid's reliability and electricity costs, providing insights into long-term decarbonization strategies across Argentina. The analysis demonstrated that these systems are expected not only to help with decarbonization efforts but also to bolster grid resiliency, reduce line losses, and improve voltage regulation while lowering electricity costs. The paper offers a replicable framework for similar studies across other Argentine provinces, which could inform a national grid reliability plan and promote regional coordination. Such coordination will play a key role in supporting a nationwide clean energy transition as Argentina increases its share of renewable energy. By coordinating subnational energy plans with national strategies, Argentina can secure a resilient clean energy future, leveraging the substantial renewable resources available across its provinces.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

L-SCIE and SUPCRTNE model and database development

This progress report (Level 3 Milestone Number M3SF-25LL010301052) summarizes research conducted at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) within the Argillite Host Rock Properties & Processes Work Package SF-25LL01030105. The focus of this milestone is to create an initial SUPCRTNE database and extensively test the SUPCRTNE code. We prepared a draft manuscript describing our workflow and approach for developing a next-generation thermodynamic database for the Spent Fuel and High Level Waste Disposition campaign. The goal is to ease any future formal software qualification effort as was done on the Yucca Mountain Project for codes including SUPCRT92 and EQ3/6. We are attempting to extend the SUPCRTNE database to include more species, mainly from the NEA volumes. We can also take advantage of thermodynamic database activities that are ongoing at Thermochimie and as part of the EURADII program. However, our effort is limited by the funds available and the changes to program scope that was initiated in mid-FY25.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2025

Degradable Biocomposite Thermoplastic Polyurethanes

In this project, the team developed tough and degradable biocomposite thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) by incorporating bacterial spores into TPUs as a biofunctional living filler. The team screened various bacteria and selected the Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 strain as the final candidate, primarily due to its genomic availability, sporulation ability and TPU assimilation activity. The heat-shock tolerance of ATCC 6633 spores was further improved through evolutionary engineering via Adaptive Laboratory Evolution (ALE), demonstrating a 17.7-fold enhanced germination efficiency post heat-shock treatment compared to the wild-type strain (WT). The team fabricated biocomposite TPUs by incorporating lyophilized powder of heat-shock tolerized (HST) spores during the hot melt extrusion (HME) of TPU at 135 °C. The baseline TPU used in this project is a commercially available soft-grade TPU (BCF45) manufactured by BASF. Colony forming unit (CFU) assays quantified that WT and HST spores in the TPU matrix retained approximately 20% and 100% survivability, respectively, after HME. Tensile testing demonstrated that the spores behaved as a polymer-reinforcing filler, positively affecting the overall tensile properties of the biocomposite TPU. For example, biocomposite TPU with WT and HST spores (BC TPU WT and BC TPU HST , respectively) exhibited up to 25% and 37% improved toughness, respectively, compared to TPU without spores. BC TPU HST showed remarkably improved disintegration in autoclaved compost (92% mass loss in 5 months), which simulated a microbially poor environment for TPU degradation. When compared to TPU without spores (44% mass loss in 5 months) the acceleration of degradation is marked. Respirometry confirmed that 72% of BC TPU HST was biomineralized into CO2 within 6 months, indicating that spores in the biocomposite TPU were germinated by utilizing nutrients in the autoclaved compost, facilitating TPU degradation at the end of the material's life. The team demonstrated the scale-up of biocomposite TPU fabrication using continuous extrusion and injection molding techniques. Processing conditions optimized in a lab-scale microcompounder were successfully transferred to a continuous extruder with a 30-fold increased throughput. Biocomposite TPUs prepared using these industry-relevant processes showed comparable toughness improvements to samples prepared in the lab-scale extruder. Excitingly, following compounding in the pilot-extruder the composite material could be injection molded, while retaining high spore viability and similar toughness improvements. The team also found that spores in biocomposite TPU served as antioxidants, preventing toughness decay during the recycled extrusion of BC TPU HST . Long-term storage tests over one year showed that the addition of spores had no negative effect on the longevity of the TPU. Furthermore, the team demonstrated the fabrication of spore-bearing biocomposite polymers with other polyesters such as PBAT, PLA, and PCL. We obtained promising preliminary data that showed overall toughness improvements for all polymers with spore addition. Finally, life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) were carried out, which indicated minimal additional cost of fabrication. Overall, a tough and degradable biocomposite thermoplastic was successfully developed through this project, with all tasks completed successfully, achieving >100% of the objectives.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

A taxogenomic view of the genus Torulaspora : an expansion from ten to twenty-two species

The yeast genus Torulaspora (subphylum Saccharomycotina, family Saccharomycetaceae) is mostly known from its type species, T. delbrueckii, a frequent colonizer of wine and sourdough bread fermentations. The genus currently contains 10 species that are typically found in various natural terrestrial environments in temperate and tropical climates. Here we employ taxogenomic analyses to investigate a large collection of Torulaspora strains obtained in multiple surveys we carried out in Asia, Australasia, North America, South America, and Europe, and to which we added several strains maintained in culture collections. Our analyses detected twelve novel species that are formally described here, thereby more than doubling the species diversity of Torulaspora. We also sketch a genotype-phenotype map for the genus and show how the complex relationship between key genes and the physiological traits they control both between and within species. This remarkable increase in the number of species in the genus Torulaspora highlights how limited the current inventory of fungal taxa is. It also shows how integrated taxogenomic approaches can foster the assessment of species circumscriptions in fungi.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Addressing challenges for operating electrochemical solar fuels technologies under variable and diurnal conditions

The outdoor operation of electrochemical solar fuels devices must contend with challenges presented by the cycles of solar irradiance, temperature, and other meteorological factors. Herein, we discuss challenges associated with these fluctuations presented over three timescales, including the effects of diurnal cycling over the course of many days, a single diurnal cycle over the course of hours, and meteorological phenomena that cause fluctuations on the order of seconds to minutes. We also highlight both reaction-independent and reaction-specific effects of variable conditions for the hydrogen evolution reaction and CO 2 reduction reaction. We identify key areas of research for advancing the outdoor operation of solar fuels technology and highlight the need for metrics and benchmarks to enable the comparison of diurnal studies across systems and geographical locations.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2023

Considerations about future hard x-ray area detectors

X-ray sources continue to advance in both intensity and temporal domains, thereby opening new ways to analyze the structure and properties of matter, provided that the resultant x-ray images can be efficiently and quantitatively recorded. In this perspective we focus on specific limitations of pixel area x-ray detectors. Although pixel area x-ray detectors have also advanced in recent years, many experiments are still detector limited. Specifically, there is need for detectors that can acquire successive images at GHz rates; detectors that can accurately measure both single photon and millions of photons per pixel in the same image at frame rates of hundreds of kHz; and detectors that efficiently capture images of very hard x-rays (20 keV to several hundred keV). The data volumes and data rates of state-of-the-art detection exceeds most practical data storage options and readout bandwidths, thereby necessitating on-line processing of data prior to, or in lieu of full frame readouts.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Alterations in Progesterone Receptor Isoform Balance in Normal and Neoplastic Breast Cells Modulates the Stem Cell Population

To investigate the role of PR isoforms on the homeostasis of stem cells in the normal and neoplastic mammary gland, we used PRA and PRB transgenic mice and the T47D human breast cancer cell line and its derivatives, T47D YA and YB (manipulated to express only PRA or PRB, respectively). Flow cytometry and mammosphere assays revealed that in murine breast, overexpression of PRB leads to an increase in luminal and basal progenitor/stem cells. Ovariectomy had a negative impact on the luminal compartment and induced an increase in mammosphere-forming capacity in cells derived from WT and PRA mice only. Treatment with ICI 182,780 augmented the mammosphere-forming capacity of cells isolated from WT and PRA mice, whilst those from PRB remained unaltered. T47D YB cells showed an increase in the CD44+/CD24Low/- subpopulation; however, the number of tumorspheres did not vary relative to T47D and YA, even though they were larger, more irregular, and had increased clonogenic capacity. T47D and YA tumorspheres were modulated by estrogen/antiestrogens, whereas YB spheres remained unchanged in size and number. Our results show that alterations in PR isoform balance have an impact on normal and tumorigenic breast progenitor/stem cells and suggest a key role for the B isoform, with implications in response to antiestrogens.

stem cells↗
DOE OSTI2021

Hosting Capacity Improvement Method Using MV–MV Solid-State-Transformer

As a large number of distributed generations are connected to the distribution system, research on the hosting capacity is actively being conducted. In particular, various methods, such as smart inverter functionality, co-located energy storage systems (ESS), and the use of on-load tap changers (OLTC), have been proposed to improve the hosting capacity. In this paper, a method to improve the hosting capacity by utilizing a solid-state transformer (SST) and its unique control capability is proposed. Lastly, the proposed method is verified in the distribution system of the Republic of Korea using the OpenDSS program.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗