Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “active layer”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,171 records · Page 65

Distributed Real-time Plume Monitoring for Deep Sea Mineral Extraction​

In the emerging industry of deep-sea mining for minerals and deposits (e.g. polymetallic nodules for nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese), more data is required to understand the effects of sediment plume generation and predict the distribution of disturbed sediment. There are two main sources of plume generation, the first being at the active mining site where the “collector” directly removes the top layer of the sea floor. The other is the “midwater plume” consisting of unwanted sediment that was collected during extraction that is pumped back into the aphotic zone. The vast majority of plume generation is caused by the collector, causing detrimental and long-lasting impacts on seafloor ecosystems due to the lack of wave activity or strong currents at the sea floor. Therefore, it is crucial to invest in the infrastructure to support the study and constant monitoring over a large area of the sea floor where plume generation is present. Due to the limited number of usable channels and power requirements, current subsea wireless communications technologies are not well suited to instrumenting the large areas of the sea floor needed to monitor plume migration. The scope of this effort is to transition experimental demonstrations of high-bandwidth, full-duplex scalable underwater laser communications to the seafloor in an open ocean environment. Specifically tackling challenges associated with the dynamic nature of the subsea world, including but not limited to, deployment logistics, sustainability, and range. The goal is to enable the internet of underwater things for deep sea industries by broadening the capabilities of subsea communications. By using high-precision laser transmitters, many of the challenges current subsea optical systems face can be circumvented, such as power consumption, interference, and bandwidth limitations. This approach lends itself to wireless interlinking multi-node networks, in series or parallel, facilitating the implementation of a wide array of sensor types. This interlinking allows all the data gathered from the network to be processed through a single hardline uplink to the surface, lowering the complexity required for near real-time data processing. Additionally, the laser control systems produce metadata that can be used to help characterize the water column between the nodes. Combining data from various sensors such as turbidity, temperature, current velocity with metadata such as beam attenuation and deflection can produce a high-resolution model of sea floor conditions around an active mining zone. The resulting near real-time model can be used to optimize location and flow rate of the mining operation to minimize and quantify the environmental impact.

Mons, Ishan↗

Modern developments in shear flow control with swirl

Passive and active control of swirling turbulent jets is experimentally investigated. Initial swirl distribution is shown to dominate the free jet evolution in the passive mode. Vortex breakdown, a manifestation of high intensity swirl, was achieved at below critical swirl number (S = 0.48) by reducing the vortex core diameter. The response of a swirling turbulent jet to single frequency, plane wave acoustic excitation was shown to depend strongly on the swirl number, excitation Strouhal number, amplitude of the excitation wave, and core turbulence in a low speed cold jet. A 10 percent reduction of the mean centerline velocity at x/D = 9.0 (and a corresponding increase in the shear layer momentum thickness) was achieved by large amplitude internal plane wave acoustic excitation. Helical instability waves of negative azimuthal wave numbers exhibit larger amplification rates than the plane waves in swirling free jets, according to hydrodynamic stability theory. Consequently, an active swirling shear layer control is proposed to include the generation of helical instability waves of arbitrary helicity and the promotion of modal interaction, through multifrequency forcing.

Farokhi, Saeed↗

Modern developments in shear flow control with swirl

Passive and active control of swirling turbulent jets is experimentally investigated. Initial swirl distribution is shown to dominate the free jet evolution in the passive mode. Vortex breakdown, a manifestation of high intensity swirl, was achieved at below critical swirl number (S = 0.48) by reducing the vortex core diameter. The response of a swirling turbulent jet to single frequency, plane wave acoustic excitation was shown to depend strongly on the swirl number, excitation Strouhal number, amplitude of the excitation wave, and core turbulence in a low speed cold jet. A 10 percent reduction of the mean centerline velocity at x/D = 9.0 (and a corresponding increase in the shear layer momentum thickness) was achieved by large amplitude internal plane wave acoustic excitation. Helical instability waves of negative azimuthal wave numbers exhibit larger amplification rates than the plane waves in swirling free jets, according to hydrodynamic stability theory. Consequently, an active swirling shear layer control is proposed to include the generation of helical instability waves of arbitrary helicity and the promotion of modal interaction, through multifrequency forcing.

Farokhi, S.↗

An Assessment of the Scientific Basis Behind Global Environmental Concerns in the 21st Century

The notion that human activities may endanger the earth's environment has emerged as a leading societal concern in the post industrial era. Under the ever increasing pressures of population growth and industrialization, the problems of local air pollution have now become matters of both local and global concern. Smog, toxic chemicals, acid rain, ozone depletion, and climate change have become household words and an intense public policy debate about the cost and benefits of environmental protection continues. There is a growing realization that the consequences of air pollution can be felt in unpredictable ways in near and far away places. Unpopulated regions of the world such as the arctic now suffer from arctic haze and ozone depletions are the largest in the Antarctic stratosphere. In the last4ol three decades many countries have instituted ambient air quality standards designed to mitigate problems of health and welfare associated with the release of chemicals. Global agreements to prevent the depletion of ozone layer and to slow down climatic warming are being actively debated and formulated. In parallel there has been an intense exploration of the science of air pollution all over the world. The scientific basis behind environmental concerns is imperfect and is central to this debate. I will review our current scientific understanding of some of the major environmental concerns. An assessment of the forthcoming efforts to put this science on a more solid footing will be provided.

Singh, Hanwant B.↗

Theoretical and global scale model studies of the atmospheric sulfur/aerosol system

The primary focus during the third-phase of our on-going multi-year research effort has been on 3 activities. These are: (1) a global-scale model study of the anthropogenic component of the tropospheric sulfur cycle; (2) process-scale model studies of the factors influencing the distribution of aerosols in the remote marine atmosphere; and (3) an investigation of the mechanism of the OH-initiated oxidation of DMS in the remote marine boundary layer. In this paper, we describe in more detail our research activities in each of these areas. A major portion of our activities during the fourth and final phase of this project will involve the preparation and submission of manuscripts describing the results from our model studies of marine boundary-layer aerosols and DMS-oxidation mechanisms.

Kasibhatla, Prasad↗

Vertical profiles of trace gas and aerosol properties over the eastern North Atlantic: variations with season and synoptic condition

Abstract. Because of their extensive coverage, marine low clouds greatly impact the global climate. Presently, the response of marine low clouds to the changes in atmospheric aerosols remains a major source of uncertainty in climate simulations. One key contribution to this large uncertainty derives from the poor understanding of the properties and processes of marine aerosols under natural conditions and the perturbation by anthropogenic emissions. The eastern North Atlantic (ENA) is a region of persistent but diverse subtropical marine boundary layer (MBL) clouds, where cloud albedo and precipitation are highly susceptible to perturbations in aerosol properties. Here we examine the key processes that drive the cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) population in the MBL using comprehensive characterizations of aerosol and trace gas vertical profiles during the Aerosol and Cloud Experiments in the Eastern North Atlantic (ACE-ENA) field campaign. During ACE-ENA, a total of 39 research flights were conducted in the Azores: 20 during summer 2017 and 19 during winter 2018. During summer, long-range-transported aerosol layers were periodically observed in the lower free troposphere (FT), leading to elevated FT CCN concentrations (NCCN). Both biomass burning and pollution from North America contribute to submicron aerosol mass in these layers, with pollution likely the dominant contributor. In contrast, long-range transported continental emissions have a much weaker influence on the aerosol properties in the ENA during the winter season. While the entrainment of FT air is a major source of particle number in the MBL for both seasons, on average it does not serve as a direct source of CCN in the MBL because the average FT NCCN is the same or even lower than that in the MBL. The particle number flux due to FT entrainment is dominated by pre-CCN (particles that are too small to form cloud droplets under typical conditions, i.e., particles with sizes below the Hoppel minimum) due to the elevated Npre-CCN in the lower FT. Once these pre-CCN are entrained into the MBL, they can grow and reach CCN size range through condensational growth, representing an indirect and major source of MBL CCN in the ENA. The impact of synoptic conditions on the aerosol properties is examined. Under pre-front and post-front conditions, shallow convective activity often leads to a deep and decoupled boundary layer. Coalescence scavenging and evaporation of drizzle below clouds lead to reduced NCCN and larger accumulation-mode particle sizes in the upper cloud-containing decoupled layer, indicating that surface measurements overestimate the NCCN relevant to the formation of MBL clouds under decoupled conditions.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Hydrophobic versus Hydrophilic Interfacial Coatings on Silicon Nanoparticles Teach Us How to Design the Solid Electrolyte Interphase in Silicon-Based Li-Ion Battery Anodes

Herein, we evaluate the effect of covalently attached molecular coating hydrophobicity on the surface of the silicon nanoparticle (Si NP) active anode material for Li-ion batteries. The experiments are a means to identify the interfacial properties that help minimize electrochemical side reactions during cycling. Preformed coatings on the Si NP surfaces prior to electrode fabrication mimic the ionically conducting and electronically insulating properties of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). Hydrophilic oligomers such as polyethylene oxide (PEO) and other related structures are commonly identified as Li+-conducting components of the SEI. Here, we study the effect of such hydrophilic PEO versus hydrophobic alkyl molecular coatings on Si NP anode electrochemical performance. We also study the effect of the PEO oligomer length and the resulting effective thickness of the interfacial coating on the electrochemical performance. We find that PEO oligomers electrochemically isolate Si NPs when the PEO coating thickness approaches the electron tunneling distance of ~2.5 nm. Surprisingly, the thickness of the PEO-based coatings has a negligible effect on their ability to minimize electrochemical side reactions as measured by Coulombic efficiency. These results reveal how the interfacial coating on silicon anode materials should differ from an operando-formed SEI layer and discuss design strategies for an ideal interfacial active material coating based on these results.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

AlGaInAs/InP semiconductor lasers with an ultra-narrow waveguide and an increased electron barrier

Semiconductor lasers based on AlGaInAs/InP heterostructures with an ultra-narrow waveguide and an increased electron barrier layer are developed. It is shown that the use of this waveguide in conjunction with profiled doping ensures a balance between internal optical losses and heat resistance. Additional use of strained wide-bandgap layers as blocking barriers limiting electron leakage from the active region makes it possible to increase the output power at the same pump current. The developed lasers with a stripe contact 100 μm wide demonstrate at room temperature an output optical power of 4.0 – 4.4 W (pump current 14 A) in a continuous-wave regime and 15 – 17 W (100 A) in a pulsed regime (100 ns, 1 kHz) at wavelengths of 1450 – 1500 nm. (paper)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Scalable synthesis of supported catalysts using fluidized bed atomic layer deposition

Overcoating layers deposited on the surface of heterogeneous catalysts using atomic layer deposition (ALD) have been shown to increase catalyst activity, lifetime, and selectivity. In this study, we performed Al 2 O 3 ALD and Pd ALD in a commercial fluidized bed reactor on high surface area mesoporous powder supports to create overcoated catalysts with high precursor utilization. We investigated the reaction mechanism for both Al 2 O 3 ALD and Pd ALD using in situ mass spectrometry and developed a mathematical model to understand the precursor saturation behaviors. We characterized the catalyst samples using a variety of techniques to measure the surface area, porosity, composition, and surface chemistry of the overcoated catalysts. Finally, we used propane dehydrogenation as a probe reaction to evaluate the performance of the catalysts prepared by fluidized bed ALD.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Influence of Charge Transport Layers on Capacitance Measured in Halide Perovskite Solar Cells

Capacitance-based techniques were previously used to measure the electrical properties of halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) such as defect activation energy and density, carrier concentration, and dielectric constant, which provide key information for evaluating the device performance. Herein, we show that capacitance-based techniques cannot be used to reliably analyze the properties of defects in the perovskite layer or at its interface, since the high-frequency capacitance signature is due to the response of charge carriers in the hole-transport layer (HTL). For HTL-free PSCs, the high-frequency capacitance can be considered as the geometric capacitance for analyzing the dielectric constant of the perovskite layer, since there is no trapping and de-trapping of charge carriers in the perovskite layer. We also find that the low-frequency capacitance signature can be used to calculate the activation energy of the ionic conductivity of the perovskite layer, but the overlapping effects with charge transport materials must be avoided.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Surface stability and H adsorption and diffusion near surfaces of W borides: a first-principles study

Abstract Understanding the behavior of tungsten boride (W x B y ) surfaces in a fusion reactor environment is an important topic since boronization is a common wall conditioning method used in fusion Tokamaks. We report the results of density functional theory calculations that investigate the surface stability of W x B y (tetragonal I4 1 /amd -WB, hexagonal P 6 3 / mmc -WB 2 and tetragonal I4/m- W 2 B) with low-index orientations, as well as hydrogen (H) energetics near W x B y surfaces. For single element terminated W x B y surfaces, B terminated surfaces are more energetically stable than W terminated as a result of significant reconstruction of B. The H surface adsorption energy and activation energy of H diffusion penetration below W x B y surfaces are mainly related to the outer termination. Specifically, the WB(001) surface terminated with two B layers, referred to as WB(001)-T BB , has higher H adsorption affinity and lower H diffusivity on this surface than other terminations, which is controlled by the significant charge transfer from B to H. However, B atoms on the WB 2 (0001)-T BB surface decrease both H adsorption and diffusivity on the surface, but enhance H diffusion below the surface in comparison to W terminated WB 2 (0001) surface. H would be trapped and diffuse within atomic surface gaps on the WB 2 ( 2 1 ˉ 1 ˉ 0 ) surface, while H below the surface layer would jump along the [0001] direction rather than diffuse into bulk. The surface diffusion activation energy of H on the W 2 B(001) surface slightly varies with terminations. Once H crosses the surface layer of W 2 B(001) with either termination, it prefers to diffuse into the bulk, or back towards the surface, rather than move parallel to the surface. Interestingly, WB 2 (0001) and WB 2 ( 2 1 ˉ 1 ˉ 0 ) surfaces will have relatively higher H retention than the other W x B y surfaces evaluated in this work.

Yang, L. (ORCID:0000000322166071)↗

Roles of Engineering Correlations in Hypersonic Entry Boundary Layer Transition Prediction

Efforts to design and operate hypersonic entry vehicles are constrained by many considerations that involve all aspects of an entry vehicle system. One of the more significant physical phenomenon that affect entry trajectory and thermal protection system design is the occurrence of boundary layer transition from a laminar to turbulent state. During the Space Shuttle Return To Flight activity following the loss of Columbia and her crew of seven, NASA's entry aerothermodynamics community implemented an engineering correlation based framework for the prediction of boundary layer transition on the Orbiter. The methodology for this implementation relies upon the framework of correlation techniques that have been in use for several decades. What makes the Orbiter boundary layer transition correlation implementation unique is that a statistically significant data set was acquired in multiple ground test facilities, flight data exists to assist in establishing a better correlation and the framework was founded upon state of the art chemical nonequilibrium Navier Stokes flow field simulations. The basic tenets that guided the formulation and implementation of the Orbiter Return To Flight boundary layer transition prediction capability will be reviewed as a recommended format for future empirical correlation efforts. The validity of this approach has since been demonstrated by very favorable comparison of recent entry flight testing performed with the Orbiter Discovery, which will be graphically summarized. These flight data can provide a means to validate discrete protuberance engineering correlation approaches as well as high fidelity prediction methods to higher confidence. The results of these Orbiter engineering and flight test activities only serve to reinforce the essential role that engineering correlations currently exercise in the design and operation of entry vehicles. The framework of information-related to the Orbiter empirical boundary layer transition prediction capability will be utilized to establish a fresh perspective on this role, to illustrate how quantitative statistical evaluations of empirical correlations can and should be used to assess accuracy and to discuss what the authors' perceive as a recent heightened interest in the application of high fidelity numerical modeling of boundary layer transition. Concrete results will also be developed related to empirical boundary layer transition onset correlations. This will include assessment of the discrete protuberance boundary layer transition onset data assembled for the Orbiter configuration during post-Columbia Return To Flight. Assessment of these data will conclude that momentum thickness Reynolds number based correlations have superior coefficients and uncertainty in comparison to roughness height based Reynolds numbers, aka Re(sub k) or Re(sub kk). In addition, linear regression results from roughness height Reynolds number based correlations will be evaluated, leading to a hypothesis that non-continuum effects play a role in the processes associated with incipient boundary layer transition on discrete protuberances.

Campbell, Charles H.↗

An Integrated, Layered-Spinel Composite Cathode for Energy Storage Applications

At low operating temperatures, commercially available electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries do not fully meet the energy and power requirements for NASA fs exploration activities. The composite cathode under development is projected to provide the required energy and power densities at low temperatures and its usage will considerably reduce the overall volume and weight of the battery pack. The newly developed composite electrode material can provide superior electrochemical performance relative to a commercially available lithium cobalt system. One advantage of using a composite cathode is its higher energy density, which can lead to smaller and lighter battery packs. In the current program, different series of layered-spinel composite materials with at least two different systems in an integrated structure were synthesized, and the volumetric and gravimetric energy densities were evaluated. In an integrated network of a composite electrode, the effect of the combined structures is to enhance the capacity and power capabilities of the material to levels greater than what is possible in current state-of-the-art cathode systems. The main objective of the current program is to implement a novel cathode material that meets NASA fs low temperature energy density requirements. An important feature of the composite cathode is that it has at least two components (e.g., layered and spinel) that are structurally integrated. The layered material by itself is electrochemically inactive; however, upon structural integration with a spinel material, the layered material can be electrochemically activated, thereby delivering a large amount of energy with stable cycling. A key aspect of the innovation has been the development of a scalable process to produce submicronand micron-scale particles of these composite materials. An additional advantage of using such a composite electrode material is its low irreversible loss (.5%), which is primarily due to the unique activation of the composite. High columbic efficiency (greater than 99%) upon cycling may indicate the formation of a stable SEI (solid-electrolyte interface) layer, which can contribute to long cycle life. The innovation in the current program, when further developed, will enable the system to maintain high energy and power densities at low temperatures, improve efficiency, and further stabilize and enhance the safety of the cell.

Hagh, Nader↗

Lightweight electrically-powered flexible thermal laminate

Cross-layered woven or unwoven yarns are used to provide an active thermal control mechanism for spacecraft use. One set of yarns is composed of flexible electrically conductive metal fibers which are capable of being resistance heated by the application of voltage. Another set of yarns, nonconductive and flexible, provides mechanical strength and precludes the passage of electrical current between the metal yarns by virtue of the spacing between them. A lightweight, electrically nonconductive film is bonded to the cross-layered yarns to protect the metal yarns from the elements (minimize electrical shorts from moisture such as rain), to provide additional strength to the fabric, and to prevent conductive loss of heat in nonvacuum applications. The nonconductive film is metalized on its obverse side to provide a more uniform heat load distribution.

Dawn, F. S.↗

Dual-function lignin monomers enable high-performance graphene electrodes via interface confinement and proton transfer enhancement

Graphene oxide (GO)-based energy storage faces dual bottlenecks: unsustainable reduction methods and sluggish proton transfer kinetics. Here, we introduce a groundbreaking green strategy using lignin-derived vanillyl alcohol (VA) as a dual-function monomer to simultaneously address these challenges. By thermally annealing GO/VA films at mild temperatures (<100 °C), VA triggers an interface-confined reduction of GO while self-polymerizing into redox-active oligomers (P-VA) that intercalate between graphene layers. This dual role-reducing agent and proton highway enables a 3D conductive network with minimized graphene restacking, abundant redox sites, and rapid H + transport pathways. Density Functional Theory (DFT) reveals how P-VA optimizes proton dynamics, while the resulting rGO-P-VA4-T90 electrode achieves a record volumetric capacitance of 311.1F/cm 3 (777.8F/cm 2 ) and retains 87.8 % capacity after 10,000 cycles. Flexible solid-state supercapacitors deliver 94.2 μWh/cm 2 energy density at 63.8 μW/cm 2 , rivaling state-of-the-art devices. Furthermore, this work redefines sustainable graphene engineering, merging biomass valorization with high-performance energy storage in a scalable, eco-friendly paradigm.

Graphene oxide reduction↗

Development of Next Generation Hierarchical Hybrid Cu-Si anode Batteries via Direct-Ink Writing Application: End of (6th) Month Report - November 2025

Sustainable renewable energy continues to be in dire need to effectively combat global warming. Emerging technology for electric vehicles/ devices remains in high demand that is not only lower in cost, more efficient, but safer in comparison to commercial materials on the market. Although first-generation lithium-ion batteries have exhibited extensive commercial application, conventional graphite no longer meets this increasing demand as an efficient anode material. Due to the fact that graphite has a subpar theoretical specific capacity (372 mAh g -1 ), thus significant limitations in rate capability (for potential faster charging at higher C-rates currently commercially available.). Alternatively, silicon has gained significant attention as a superior candidate to potentially surpass graphite. Due to silicon’s exceedingly high theoretical capacity (4,200 mAh g -1 ) in comparison to standard graphite, its abundance thus in turn it’s low-cost, in addition to exhibiting a significantly low working potential (< 0.4 V vs Li/Li + ). However, one of the main (and most detrimental) challenges is silicon’s tendency to expand in volume (> 300%) upon discharge as it begins the lithiation process. As a direct result, it causes not only for the particles to both crack and pulverize under mechanical stress as the volume continues to expand and contract during cycling. Upon assembling the cell, it needs to undergo ‘charging’ for initially discharging/ ‘activating’ the cell, otherwise commonly known as the ‘formation’ step. As a result a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer begins to form at the anode surface because some of the electrolyte begins to react during the formation process. However, this (SEI) layer is deemed as a ‘protective’ interlayer because in theory it prevents further reaction as the cell continues to cycle. However, due to the volume change it causes significant degradation at the interface. As cracking starts to occur at the anode surface, it results in a ‘new’ altered surface with each cycle that causes further reaction with the electrolyte as a byproduct quickly consuming active Li/ and more electrolyte. Thus, fracturing this ‘protective layer,’ causing significantly higher impedance as a result, and in turn a decline in capacity due to active Li-loss. In addition to the active material exfoliating off from the current collector, further contributing to the steady decline in capacity and overall performance. Current state of the art Si-anode batteries on the market range between a maximum content of 5-10 Si wt%. It has been previously reported Tesla has utilized SiO x -C anodes containing 5 wt% Si within their ‘Model 3/ Model X’ electric vehicles. However, more recent ‘Model 3’ vehicles have started to incorporate 10 Si wt%, in which they were able to increase their energy density upwards by approximately 30%. Recent effort has been focused on continuing to increase the wt% of Si being utilized, eventually to 100 wt% of Si, to maximize the energy density even further.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Scalable Synthesis of 2D Mo 2 C and Thickness‐Dependent Hydrogen Evolution on Its Basal Plane and Edges

Abstract 2D transition metal carbides (2D TMCs and MXenes) are promising candidates for applications of energy storage and catalysis. However, producing high‐quality, large 2D flakes of Mo2C MXene has been challenging. Here, a new salt‐assisted templating approach is reported that enables the direct synthesis of 2D Mo 2 C with low defect concentrations. KCl acts as a template to form an intermediate 2D product, facilitating Mo 2 C formation without coarsening upon melting. The thickness of the flakes produced can range from monolayer (0.36 nm) to 10 layers (4.55 nm), and the electrocatalytical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity of 2D Mo 2 C is inversely proportional to its thickness. The monolayer Mo 2 C shows remarkable HER performance with a current density of ≈6800 mA cm − 2 at 470 mV versus reversible hydrogen electrode and an ultrahigh turnover frequency of ≈17 500 s − 1 . This salt‐assisted synthesis approach can also produce WC and V 8 C 7 nanosheets, expanding the family of 2D carbides. The new pathway eliminates the need for layered ceramic precursors, making it a versatile approach to direct synthesis of MXene‐like 2D carbides.

Chemistry↗