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At least 127 records · Page 7

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1987

Material growth and characterization for solid state devices

During this period InGaAs and InGaAsP were grown on (100)InP by liquid phase electroepitaxy (LPEE). Results of the epitaxial growth of InGaAs on sputtered quartz masked substrates are presented. The resulting surface morphology can be related to the current density distribution near the edges of a masked pattern. The quaternary InGaAs was grown with compositions corresponding to 1.3 micron and 1.5 micron emission wavelengths. Growth rates were found to be linearly dependent upon current density, and a strong dependence upon composition was noted. These compositions lie in the miscibility gap region of the alloy phase diagram at the 645 C growth temperature. Growths were performed at 685 C to avoid the miscibility gap. Epilayers were characterized by photoluminescence, X-ray diffraction, secondary ion mass spectrometry, and Hall effect measurements. Aluminum oxide was deposited on silicon and InGaAs substrates for the characterization of this material as an insulator in a field effect transistor structure. It was determined that the results did not warrant further work with the deposition from an aluminum isopropoxide source. A metallographic vapor phase epitaxy system installation is nearing completion for use in hybrid III-V semiconductor epilayer growths.

Collis, Ward J.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Determination of the Fe-Ni phase diagram below 400 C

Analytical EM techniques have been used to obtain a phase diagram for the Fe-Ni system below 400 C in the composition range from 0-52 wt pct Ni. The present diagram is consistent with all the phases observed in the Fe-Ni regions of meteorites. An asymmetric spinodal decomposition results in the expected two-phase isotropic microstructure. The present experimentally-determined miscibility gap below 400 C, located between 11.7 and 51.9 wt pct Ni at 200 C, is shown to be wider than the calculated miscibility gap.

Reuter, K. B.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Modeling of coalescence, agglomeration, and phase segregation in microgravity processing of bimetallic composite materials

The overall objective of this research is to develop models to predict drop-size-distribution evolutions due to droplet collisions and coalescence during processing within the miscibility gap of bimetallic liquid-phase-miscibility-gap materials. The individual and collective action of gravitational and nongravitational mechanisms on the relative motion and coalescence of drops are considered.

Davis, Robert H.↗

NASA NTRS1998

Metastable Demixing of Supercooled Cu-Co and Cu-Fe Alloys in an Oxide Flux

A systematic study on the liquid separation in supercooled Cu-Co and Cu-Fe alloys was performed using a melt fluxing which permits high supercooling to be achieved. Moreover, this method renders it possible to directly measure binodal temperatures and establish metastable liquid miscibility gap (LMG). All phase-separated samples at compositions ranging from 10 to 80 wt pct Co or to 83 wt pct Fe were found to exhibit droplet-shaped morphologies, in spite of various droplet distributions. Uniformly dispersed microstructures were obtained as the minority component was less than 20 vol.%; while beyond this percentage, serious coarsening was brought about. Calculations of the miscibility gap in the Cu-Co system and Stokes movement velocity of Co and Fe droplets in Cu matrix were made to analyze the experimental results.

Li, D.↗

NASA NTRS2002

Molecular Probe Fluorescence Monitoring of Polymerization

This project investigated the feasibility of using fluorescence spectroscopy to determine viscosity of polymer/monomer in support of Transient Interfacial Phenomena in Miscible Polymer Systems (TIPMPS). This project will attempt to measure gradient induced flow at a miscible interface during and / or after in-flight polymerization of dodecyl acrylate (lauryl acrylate). Concentration and temperature gradients will be intentionally introduced during polymerization and the resultant fluid flow determined by Particle Imaging Velocimetry (PIV). This report describes an investigation of the feasibility of using fluorescence of a probe molecule to monitor viscosity and/or concentration during and after polymerization. The probe used was pyrene which has been shown to be sensitive to its local environment in methyl methacrylate.

Patrick Bunton↗

NASA NTRS2002

Transient Mixing Driven by Buoyancy Flows

Mixing driven by buoyancy-induced flows is of particular interest to microgravity processes, as the body force that governs the intensity of flow fields can be directly controlled. We consider a model experimental system to explore the dynamics of mixing which employs two miscible liquids inside a cavity separated initially by a divider. The two liquids are oriented vertically inside a rectangular cavity with constant width and height, and varying depths to span the range of a Hele-Shaw cell to a 3-[) configuration. The two miscible liquids can be sufficiently diluted and died, for example water and deuterium oxide, such that a distinct interface exists across the divider. The transient mixing characteristic of the two fluids is addressed by following the Lagrangian history of the interface for various aspect ratios in the z-plane (depth variation) as well as a range of pulling velocities of the divider. The mixing characteristics of the two fluids are quantified from measurement of the length stretch of the interface and its flow field using respectively image processing techniques and Particle Imaging Velocimetry. Scaling analysis shows that the length stretch depends on four governing parameters, namely the Grashof number (Gr), Schmidt number (Sc), aspect ratio (Ar), and Reynolds number (Re). Variation of the Schmidt number is taken into account through thermophysical property variation. Thus our problem reduces to a codimension three bifurcation in parametric space for Gr, Ar, and Re. Our experimental results show that for Gr on the order of 106 and a nominal cavity aspect ratio Ar = 0.2, the net effect of removal of the divider and the overwhelming buoyancy force causes an overturning motion which stretches and folds the interface to produce ml internal breakwave. The structure of the breakwave is similar to the ubiquitous Rayleigh-Taylor instability morphology. The breakwave is dissipated either through internal or wall collision depending on the impulsive velocity of the divider as prescribed by the Reynolds number. The decay of the collision event occurs through sloshing oscillations over a short time scale. The two fluids then become stably stratified with a diffusive band at the interface indicating local mass transport. The local bifurcation of the internal breakwave is investigated as a function of aspect ratio. Results show that for narrow cavities on the order of 2mm (Ar = 0.04) folding does not occur, the interface only stretches. As the cavity size increases folding occurs through a supercritical bifurcation. Insight into the mechanism of folding is obtained from measurement of the flow field which shows that in the neighborhood of the folding event, there exists hyperbolic points caused by multiple vortex interactions. The global length stretch of the interface as a function of time is nearly Gaussian; calculations of finite-time Liapunov exponents as well as construction of horseshoe maps indicate the likelihood of a chaotic transient.

W.M.B. Duval↗

NASA NTRS2009

Templated native silk smectic gels

One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of preparing a fibrous protein smectic hydrogel by way of a solvent templating process, comprising the steps of pouring an aqueous fibrous protein solution into a container comprising a solvent that is not miscible with water; sealing the container and allowing it to age at about room temperature; and collecting the resulting fibrous protein smectic hydrogel and allowing it to dry. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of obtaining predominantly one enantiomer from a racemic mixture, comprising the steps of pouring an aqueous fibrous protein solution into a container comprising a solvent that is not miscible with water; sealing the container and allowing it to age at about room temperature; allowing the enantiomers of racemic mixture to diffuse selectively into the smectic hydrogel in solution; removing the smectic hydrogel from the solution; rinsing predominantly one enantiomer from the surface of the smectic hydrogel; and extracting predominantly one enantiomer from the interior of the smectic hydrogel. The present invention also relates to a smectic hydrogel prepared according to an aforementioned method.

Jin, Hyoung-Joon↗

NASA NTRS2013

Templated Native Silk Smectic Gels

Jin, Hyoung-Joon↗

NASA NTRS2016

Templated Native Silk Smectic Gels

Jin, Hyoung-Joon↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

An Interim Set of TNT Curves for LOX/LNG Explosions

Space launch companies are actively developing, or in some cases have already developed, new vehicles that use large quantities of liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid natural gas (LNG) propellants. This propellant mixture currently lacks sound/verified explosive safety standards for use in explosive siting and flight safety analysis. In the U.S., multiple government and commercial organizations have conducted limited testing, or are preparing to conduct tests, intended to provide a sound technical basis for LOX/LNG explosive standards applicable to space launch vehicle ground and flight operations. The limited testing and analysis conducted so far indicates the potential to produce extremely energetic explosions due to the miscibility of LOX/LNG (methane), a unique feature relative to previously used propellant mixtures such as hydrogen/oxygen or kerosene/oxygen. MOX is a homogenous mixture of methane and oxygen that is possible because of methane’s 100% miscibility in LOX. Preliminary testing by N2L, Inc. described in this paper shows that it is possible to form MOX with a variety of mixing methods, and that MOX is a sensitive high explosive capable of producing overpressures greater than comparable masses of C-4. The limited amount and quality of large-scale LOX/LNG explosive test data, and the potential formation of high-explosive MOX, create significant unknowns in the determination of hazard areas (cleared of the public) for ground operations (such as a static fire test) and flights of launch vehicles with LOX/LNG propellant. This paper will review the methods used by NASA to develop and validate the LOX/LH2 blast model using large-scale explosive test programs such as Project PYRO, the Hydrogen-Oxygen Vertical Impact (HOVI), and the Large-Scale Hydrogen-Oxygen Explosion (LSHOE) tests. This paper will describe how the same process was used to prepare an interim LOX/LNG blast model that applies to various LV failure scenarios and conservatively accounts for potential MOX formation. This paper also summarizes past and future testing and modeling efforts funded by a consortium of NASA, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the US Space Force (USSF). These test programs should be concluded within the next 3 years and are intended to provide empirical data for model verification and validation.

Liquid Oxygen↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

An Interim Set of TNT Curves for LOX/LNG Explosions

Space launch companies are actively developing, or in some cases have already developed, new vehicles that use large quantities of liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid natural gas (LNG) propellants. This propellant mixture currently lacks sound/verified LOX/LNG explosive safety standards for use in explosive siting and flight safety analysis. In the U.S., multiple government and commercial organizations have conducted limited testing, or are preparing to conduct tests, intended to provide a sound technical basis for explosive standards applicable to space launch vehicle ground and flight operations. The limited testing and analysis conducted so far indicates the potential to produce extremely energetic explosions due to the miscibility of LOX/LNG (methane), a unique feature relative to previously used propellant mixtures such as hydrogen/oxygen or kerosene/oxygen. MOX is a homogenous mixture of methane and oxygen that is possible because of methane’s 100% miscibility in LOX. Preliminary testing by N2L, Inc. described in this paper shows that it is possible to form MOX with a variety of mixing methods, and that MOX is a sensitive high explosive capable of producing overpressures greater than comparable masses of C-4. The limited amount and quality of large-scale LOX/LNG explosive test data, and the potential formation of high-explosive MOX, create significant unknowns in the determination of hazard areas (cleared of the public) for ground operations (such as a static fire test) and flights of launch vehicles with LOX/LNG propellant. This paper will review the methods used by NASA to develop and validate the LOX/LH2 blast model using large-scale explosive test programs such as Project PYRO, the Hydrogen-Oxygen Vertical Impact (HOVI), and the Large-Scale Hydrogen-Oxygen Explosion (LSHOE) tests. This paper will describe how the same process was used to prepare an interim LOX/LNG blast model that applies to various LV failure scenarios and conservatively accounts for potential MOX formation. This paper also summarizes past and future testing and modeling efforts funded by a consortium of NASA, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the US Space Force (USSF). These test programs should be concluded within the next 3 years and are intended to provide empirical data for model verification and validation.

Liquid Oxygen↗

DOE OSTI2020

An Experimental Investigation of Multilayer Flow in a Slide Die Coating Process

Roll-to-roll coating technology has been actively applied not only for conventional film production but also for emerging energy devices such as organic solar cells, organic light emitting diodes, batteries, smart windows, and fuel cells. The devices are multilayer structures requiring several coating and drying steps when implemented in a serial fashion, which increases capital costs and energy consumption. Simultaneous multilayer (ML) coating technologies present an opportunity for cost reductions and improved process efficiency by reducing equipment footprint and the number of process steps. In this talk, we experimentally investigate ML slide die coating flow for the manufacturing of fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs). For ML slide coating, understanding fluid properties such as density, surface tension, and viscosity are necessary for stable flows and limiting intermixing of the miscible layers. Here, we utilize a design-of-experiment methodology - Box-Behnken design (BBD) - to correlate ink formulation parameters to fluid properties. Using the ink properties obtained from the BBD, we performed numerical flow simulations to obtain a proper process conditions to guide experimental coating trials. Finally, experimental verification is performed on a ML slide die and a degree of miscibility was observed for various ink formulation conditions.

28 EE - Advanced Manufacturing Office (EE-5A)↗

DOE OSTI2023

Tuning the Intermolecular Electrostatic Interaction toward High-Efficiency and Low-Cost Organic Solar Cells

Organic solar cells (OSCs) have achieved much progress with rapidly increasing power conversion efficiencies (PCEs). It should be noted that the top-performance OSCs are generally consisted of active materials with complex chemical structures, resulting in high costs. Here, combining the material design and morphology control, high-efficiency OSCs are fabricated by a low-cost donor: acceptor blend. A completely non-fused electron acceptor named Tz is designed and synthesized via introducing thiazole units on both sides of a bithiophene core, which shows an outstanding PCE of 13.3% with a typical polythiophene donor. More importantly, optimization guidelines are presented to get excellent morphology for low-cost donor:acceptor systems. Three polythiophenes are selected, poly(3-hexylthiophene) and its two derivatives with electron-withdrawing substitutions (PDCBT and PDCBT-2F), as donors to fabricate the cell devices. The computational and experimental data reveal that decreasing the electrostatic interaction between polythiophene and Tz is the key to getting a suppressed miscibility and thus a high phase purity. Finally, this study provides insight into the molecular design and donor:acceptor matching requirements for high-efficiency and low-cost OSCs.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2022

Application of machine learning to evaluating and remediating models for energy and environmental engineering

Machine learning (ML) algorithms have been increasingly successful in their applications to solve energy and environmental engineering problems. ML algorithms have the advantage of being able to solve highly nonlinear issues effectively. Furthermore, considering the limited sample size of data collected in energy and environmental engineering, obtaining a ML model with reasonable accuracy is simple. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the current applications of ML algorithms lack effective screening of dominant factors and comprehensive model validation, which weakens the predictive ability of the models. The present study takes the minimum miscible pressure (MMP) of CO 2 - oil systems as an example. It establishes a systematic and robust predictive model to address this issue. Based on 147 sets of slim tube tests, the predictive models of the MMPs are investigated by application of eight ML algorithms. The paper concludes that most of the published ML models in the field of energy and environmental engineering prediction are not reliable. Furthermore, it addresses the main reasons for the poor performance of some predictive models built by ML and provides guidelines on how to make such models robust. Further, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to point out the defects of current ML modeling methods and propose countermeasures for their application in energy and environmental engineering problems.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

DOE OSTI2022

Cost-Efficiency balanced polymer acceptors based on lowly fused Dithienopyrrolo[3, 2b]benzothiadiazole for 16.04% efficiency All-Polymer solar cells

All-polymer solar cells (All-PSCs) attracted increasing attention due to the outstanding thermal stability and mechanical properties. The current prevailing polymer acceptors for most efficient All-PSCs are polymerized high-performance small molecule acceptor of Y6, i.e. the dithienothiopheno[3,2-b]-pyrrolobenzothiadiazole (BTTP) based polymers. However, the BTTP-based polymers often show relatively shallow highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level and high figure of merit (FOM), which limit the rational selection of paring donor polymers. Herein, we presented two low-cost polymer acceptors, namely as BTP-T2F and BTP-2T2F, based on lowly fused dithienopyrrolo[3,2b]benzothiadiazole (BTP, removing two thiophene cycles from BTTP). Here the BTP-based polymers exhibited deeper HOMO levels around –5.90 eV, which could match variable donor polymers with low-lying HOMO levels, such as low-cost PTQ10. Additionally, the synthesis was significantly simplified compared to BTTP-based polymers. A power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 14.32% was achieved in binary blend device containing PTQ10:BTP-2T2F. By adding a miscibility-enhancing PBDTCl-TPD as a third component, the top PCE of 16.04% was obtained in ternary blend All-PSCs. Combining the high device performance and low estimated cost, extraordinary cost-efficiency balance was realized within these BTP-based polymer acceptors.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2022

Siloxane-functional small molecule acceptor for high-performance organic solar cells with 16.6% efficiency

As one of the simple but most effective molecular design strategies, side-chain engineering has been widely employed to modify the photoelectric properties of active layer materials for boosting the photovoltaic performance of organic solar cells (OSCs). In this work, a functionalized small molecule acceptor (SMA) named BTSi-4F with a bulky siloxane-terminated solubilizing group as side-chains, derived from a classical SMA of Y6, was designed and synthesized. The results demonstrate that the introduction of siloxane-functional terminated groups into SMA not only affects the optical absorption and molecular energy levels, but also regulates the miscibility between the polymer donor and SMA. Compared to the original Y6, BTSi-4F exhibits a better solubility, upshifted lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy level, more ordered molecular packing, and higher electron-mobility. Matched with a wide bandgap polymer donor PM6, the chlorobenzene-processed OSCs based on PM6:BTSi-4F achieved a superior power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 16.6% with both high open-circuit voltage (V oc ) of 0.90 V and high fill factor (FF) of 0.77, while the devices based on PM6:Y6 obtained a much lower PCE of 13.0% with a V oc of 0.81 V and FF of 0.69 under the same conditions. This work offers a promising molecular design strategy of siloxane-terminated side chain engineering to develop high-performance SMAs for efficient OSCs.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2025

Material Extrusion Printing of Poly(Acrylonitrile‐Styrene‐Acrylate) and Poly(Acrylonitrile‐Butadiene‐Styrene) Structures Reinforced with Poly(Phenylene Oxide) Additives for Improved Thermomechanical Properties and their Surface Analysis by Time‐of‐Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

Fused filament fabrication offers the ability to 3D print complex geometries made from plastic filament materials; however, these parts are mechanically outperformed by parts created by traditional fabrication methods. To overcome this challenge, a high-performance polymer poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) is incorporated as an additive into two common engineering thermoplastics, poly(acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate) (ASA) and poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) (ABS). Structures printed from these polymer blends are more mechanically robust compared to those prepared from the parent polymers, with low loading levels (1–5 wt%) of PPO improving the elastic strength by up to ≈30% relative to the parent terpolymers. Even at higher loading levels (10 and 20 wt% PPO), there is no evidence of additive aggregation in the model thin films, which is supported by compositional analysis of the copolymers and chemical analysis via time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. The enhancements in mechanical properties of ASA and ABS blends appear to be a consequence of homogeneous incorporation of the PPO additive. In conclusion, this work explores expanding materials-property space using miscible blends of engineering thermoplastics to improve mechanical performance as a general approach to overcoming challenges with parts created by melt-based material extrusion printing.

additive manufacturing↗

DOE OSTI2025

Enhanced Reversibility of Iron Metal Anode with a Solid Electrolyte Interphase in Concentrated Chloride Electrolytes

Iron is a promising candidate for a cost-effective anode for large-scale energy storage systems due to its natural abundance and well-established mass production. Recently, Fe-ion batteries (FeIBs) that use ferrous ions as the charge carrier have emerged as a potential storage solution. The electrolytes in FeIBs are necessarily acidic to render the ferrous ions more anodically stable, allowing a wide operation voltage window. However, the iron anode suffers severe hydrogen evolution reaction with a low Coulombic efficiency (CE) in an acidic environment, shortening the battery cycle life. Herein, a hybrid aqueous electrolyte that forms a solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer on the Fe anode surface is introduced. The electrolyte mainly comprises FeCl 2 and ZnCl 2 as cosalts, where the Zn-Cl anionic complex species of the concentrated ZnCl 2 allows dimethyl carbonate (DMC) to be miscible with the aqueous ferrous electrolyte. SEI derived from DMC's decomposition passivates the iron surface, which leads to an average CE of 98.3% and much-improved cycling stability. As a result, this advancement shows the promise of efficient and durable FeIBs.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗