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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 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Tuning the Mechanical Properties of Crosslinked Copolymers via Sequence and Solvent‐Selective Swelling for Vat Photopolymerization

Block copolymers (BCPs) offer distinct advantages for vat photopolymerization by enabling mechanically programmable network structures through microphase-separated morphologies that can be kinetically trapped during curing, yielding properties unattainable in homogeneous resins. However, the respective roles of repeat-unit sequence and solvent environment, together with their interplay in directing network formation and mechanical performance, remain unclear. Here, we synthesize a series of CO 2 -based polycarbonate copolymers comprising a crosslinkable glassy poly(vinyl cyclohexene carbonate) (PVCHC, A block) and a non-crosslinkable soft poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC, B block). The polymer sequence is systematically varied (ABA, BAB, and statistical), and solvent choice controls block-selective swelling to jointly control gelation behavior, microphase morphology, and mechanical response through changes in the accessibility and local environment of photocrosslinkable vinyl groups during network formation, as revealed by photorheology and small angle x-ray scattering. By tuning polymer sequence and curing solvent, we transform nominally identical formulations from brittle to highly ductile materials, achieving a three-orders-of-magnitude range in toughness (0.003 to 9.1 MJ m −3 ). These results establish clear structure–processing–property relationships and identify polymer sequence and selective solvation as powerful strategies for programming both printability and performance of block copolymer resins for additive manufacturing.

additive manufacturing↗
DOE OSTI2025

Alkali Cation Inhibition of Imidazolium-Mediated Electrochemical CO 2 Reduction on Silver

Imidazolium-based ionic liquids have led to enhanced CO 2 electroreduction activity due to cation effects at the cathode surface, stabilizing the reaction intermediates and decreasing the activation energy. In aqueous media, alkali cations are also known to improve CO 2 reduction activity on metals such as Ag, with the enhancement attributed to electrical double layer effects and trending with the size of the alkali cation. However, the effect of a mixed catholyte solution of alkali cations in the presence of an imidazolium-based ionic liquid has not been well-explored. Herein, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [EMIM][BF 4 ], in water was investigated with alkali salts to unravel the interaction effects for CO 2 electroreduction on Ag. Although both [EMIM] + and alkali cations have individually improved CO 2 to CO conversion on Ag in water, electrochemical results showed that alkali cations hindered imidazolium-mediated CO 2 electroreduction in most conditions. Li + , in particular, was sharply inhibitory compared to other alkali cations and strongly redirected the selectivity to hydrogen evolution. The nature of the alkali cation inhibition was investigated with spectroscopic techniques, including in situ surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and dynamic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (DEIS). Along with computational insights from density functional theory (DFT), the electrochemical and spectroscopic data suggest that alkali cations inhibit [EMIM]-mediated CO 2 reduction by competing for surface adsorption sites, preventing the potential-dependent structural reorientation of imidazolium, and promoting hydrogen evolution by bringing solvated water to the cathode surface.

cations↗
DOE OSTI2025

Vibronic coupling-driven symmetry breaking and solvation in the photoexcited dynamics of quadrupolar dyes

Quadrupolar dyes, such as acceptor–donor–acceptor molecules, are highly relevant for applications in nonlinear optics and photovoltaics. They are also versatile models for exploring photoinduced charge-transfer dynamics. The interplay between electronic and vibronic couplings in these molecules may break excited-state symmetry, resulting in intramolecular charge separation and pronounced solvatochromism. Experimentally, distinguishing the roles of intramolecular vibronic coupling and solvent reorganization for the initial charge-transfer dynamics has been challenging so far. Here we investigate a prototypical quadrupolar dye in polar and non-polar solvents using ultrafast pump–probe and two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy. Our results reveal that vibronic couplings initiate excited-state symmetry breaking during the first ~50 fs of the photoinduced charge transfer, whereas solvent-induced charge localization sets in at later times. Quantum dynamics and electronic structure simulations support our experimental findings. Our results reveal the details of solvation dynamics in photoexcited molecules and suggest strategies for their manipulation through vibronic couplings.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Solvation-guided inhibition of manganese dissolution of lithium- and manganese- rich cathode via cyclic carbonate molecular engineering

Lithium and manganese-rich (LMR) layered oxides represent a leading class of high-energy cathode materials, but their practical realization is fundamentally limited by severe manganese (Mn) dissolution, a process that triggers structural degradation and rapid capacity fade. While mitigation efforts have predominantly focused on interfacial engineering, the intrinsic contribution of bulk electrolyte solvation to this degradation pathway remains largely unexplored, primarily due to the difficulty of deconvolving its effects from concurrent cathode-electrolyte interphase (CEI) formation. Here, we report an experimental design to isolate the role of solvation. We systematically varied the electrolyte solvent solvation power by substituting the strongly coordinating ethylene carbonate (EC) with its weaker coordinating fluorinated derivatives, fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) and trans-4,5-Difluoro-1,3-dioxolan-2-one (DFEC), while maintaining a consistent interfacial chemistry. Remarkably, the electrolyte formulated with the weakest solvent, DFEC, exhibits superior cycling stability, suppressing Mn dissolution by up to 63% relative to the conventional EC-based system. Post-mortem analysis unequivocally attributes this performance enhancement to the preservation of the LMR cathode's structural integrity, a direct consequence of mitigated Mn dissolution. This work provides conclusive evidence that modulating bulk electrolyte solvation is a potent and direct strategy for stabilizing LMR cathodes, establishing a vital design principle for next-generation battery systems.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Unlocking the unfolded structure of ubiquitin: Combining time-resolved x-ray solution scattering and molecular dynamics to generate unfolded ensembles

The unfolding dynamics of ubiquitin were studied using a combination of x-ray solution scattering (XSS) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The kinetic analysis of the XSS ubiquitin signals showed that the protein unfolds through a two-state process, independent of the presence of destabilizing salts. In order to characterize the ensemble of unfolded states in atomic detail, the experimental XSS results were used as a constraint in the MD simulations through the incorporation of x-ray scattering derived potential to drive the folded ubiquitin structure toward sampling unfolded states consistent with the XSS signals. We detail how biased MD simulations provide insight into unfolded states that are otherwise difficult to resolve and underscore how experimental XSS data can be combined with MD to efficiently sample structures away from the native state. Our results indicate that ubiquitin samples unfolded in states with a high degree of loss in secondary structure yet without a collapse to a molten globule or fully solvated extended chain. Finally, we propose how using biased-MD can significantly decrease the computational time and resources required to sample experimentally relevant nonequilibrium states.

Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2024

Characterize and control the multi-range structure of solution-phase systems with resonant x-ray scattering

This work aims at demonstrating the feasibility and impact of Anomalous X-ray Scattering (AXS) in characterizing the multi-range structures of solution-state systems. We will show preliminary investigation of long-range correlations in concentrated aqueous electrolytes with a combination of AXS and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We will also start exploring the capability of AXS to capture intra- and inter-molecular structure of dilute molecular systems, and specifically its sensitivity to the chemical environment surrounding active metal sites. We anticipate that the development of this method will help us to understand ion solvation and transport, which affect the performances of, for instance, electrocatalytic cells, as well as to identify/control the intrinsic structural factors that lead to selectivity, efficiency, and stability control during catalysis.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Open-source generation of sigma profiles: impact of quantum chemistry and solvation treatment on machine learning performance

The combination of machine learning (ML) models with chemistry-related tasks requires the description of molecular structures in a machine-readable way. The nature of these so-called molecular descriptors has a direct and major impact on the performance of ML models and remains an open problem in the field. Structural descriptors like SMILES strings or molecular graphs lack size-independence and can be memory intensive. Machine-learned descriptors can be of low dimensionality and constant size but lack physical significance and human interpretability. Sigma profiles, which are unnormalized histograms of the surface charge distributions of solvated molecules, combine physical significance with low dimensionality and size-independence, making them a suitable candidate for a universal molecular descriptor. However, their widespread adoption in ML applications requires open access to sigma profile generation, which is currently not available. This work details the development of OpenSPGen – an open-source tool for generating sigma profiles. Also presented are studies on the effect of different settings on the efficacy of the generated sigma profiles at predicting thermophysical material properties when used as inputs to a Gaussian process as a simple surrogate ML model. We find that a higher level of theory does not translate to more accurate results. We also provide further recommendations for sigma profile calculation and use in ML models.

Salih, Fathya Y. M. [University of Notre Dame, IN ↗
DOE OSTI2024

Mechanical Properties of a Solvated Biomolecule: RGD (1FUV) Peptide

The mechanical properties of proteins/peptides play an essential role in their functionalities and implications, as well as their structure and dynamic properties. Understanding mechanical properties is pivotal to our knowledge of protein folding and the molecular basis of diverse cellular processes. Herein, we present a computational approach using ab initio quantum mechanical calculations to determine the mechanical properties—such as bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young’s modulus, and Poisson’s ratio—of a solvated Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide model. Since this peptide serves as the RGD-directed integrin recognition site and may participate in cellular adhesion, it is considered a promising small peptide for medicinal applications. This successful approach paves the way for investigating larger and more complex biomolecules.

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology↗
DOE OSTI2026

Solvent Reorganization and Surface–Species Interactions Control Transfer Hydrogenation Rates in Sn-Beta Zeolites

Reorganization of confined alcohol networks reshapes adsorption and activation thermodynamics in Lewis acid zeolites, yet the roles of adsorbate sterics and non-H-bonding cosolvents remain unclear. Here, we investigate transfer hydrogenation of methyl- (mCH) and tert-butylcyclohexanone (tbCH) with 2-butanol over hydrophobic Sn-Beta. First-order rates per defect-open Sn site are 2–5× higher for mCH than tbCH, but converge in the zero-order regime (333–393 K), indicating that solvent reorganization entropically drives adsorption, while bond activation is insensitive to ketone structure. Reactions in toluene or acetonitrile (with 1 M 2-butanol) show that intraporous solvent organization governs transition-state stabilization: on hydrophobic Sn-Beta, apparent enthalpies and entropies rise with decreasing solvent polarity, whereas hydrophilic zeolites display nearly constant barriers across solvents. Liquid-phase IR spectroscopy corroborates these trends, showing that hydrophilic pores enforce 2-butanol-like solvation environments even in toluene. Together, these results reveal how zeolite pores regulate the intraporous solvent structure, whose reorganization upon adsorption reshapes the thermodynamic landscape of Lewis acid catalysis

Adsorption↗
NASA NTRS1990

Cavities in molecular liquids and the theory of hydrophobic solubilities

Thermal configurational data on neat liquids are used to obtain the work of formation of hard spherical cavities of atomic size in six molecular solvents: n-hexane, n-dodecane, n-undecyl alcohol, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, and water. These results are used to test a recent suggestion that the differences between nonaqueous solvents and liquid water in solvation of inert gases are not principally due to the hydrogen-bonded structure of liquid water but rather to the comparatively small size of the water molecule. The frequencies of occurrence of cavities in liquid water can be meaningfully distinguished from those in the organic solvents. Liquid water has a larger fractional free volume, but that free volume is distributed in smaller packets. With respect to cavity work, water is compared to a solvent of the same molecular density and composed of hard spheres of the same size as the water molecule. That comparison indicates that the hard-sphere liquid finds more ways to configure its free volume in order to accommodate an atomic solute of substantial size and thus, would be more favorable solvent for inert gases. The scaled particle model of inert gas solubility in liquid water predicts cavity works 20% below the numerical data for TIP4P water at 300 K and 1.0 g/cm3 for cavity radii near 2.0 angstroms. It is argued that the sign of this difference is just the sign that ought to be expected and that the magnitude of this difference measures structural differences between water and the directly comparable hard-sphere liquid. In conjunction with previous data, these results indicate that atomic sized cavities should be considered submacroscopic.

NASA Discipline Exobiology↗
DOE OSTI2024

The Influence of Alkyl Spacers and Molecular Weight on the Charge Transport and Storage Properties of Oxy‐Bithiophene‐Based Conjugated Polymers

Abstract Conjugated polymers (CPs) with polar side chains can conduct electronic and ionic charges simultaneously, making them promising for bioelectronics, electrocatalysis and energy storage. Recent work showed that adding alkyl spacers between CP backbones and polar side chains improved electronic charge carrier mobility, reduced swelling and enhanced stability, without compromising ion transport. However, how alkyl spacers impact polymer backbone conformation and, subsequently, electronic properties remain unclear. In this work, we design two oxy‐bithiophene‐based CP series, each featuring progressively extended alkyl spacer lengths and two distinct molecular weight (MW) distributions. Using operando characterisations, we evaluate the (spectro)electrochemical and swelling properties of the polymer thin films, and their performance in organic field‐effect transistors and organic electrochemical transistors. Surprisingly, alkyl spacers negatively impact the hole mobility of our polymers, with higher MW amplifying this effect. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we show that it is thermodynamically favourable for adjacent non‐polar alkyl spacers to aggregate in polar electrolytes, leading to backbone twisting. Further spectroscopic measurements corroborate this prediction. Our findings demonstrate the active interactions between side chain structure, MW and electrolyte/solvent polarity in influencing polymer performance, underscoring the importance of considering solvation environment effects on polymer conformation when designing new mixed conducting CPs for electrochemical applications.

Yu, Hang [Department of Physics and Centre for Pro↗
DOE OSTI2024

The Influence of Alkyl Spacers and Molecular Weight on the Charge Transport and Storage Properties of Oxy‐Bithiophene‐Based Conjugated Polymers

Conjugated polymers (CPs) with polar side chains can conduct electronic and ionic charges simultaneously, making them promising for bioelectronics, electrocatalysis and energy storage. Recent work showed that adding alkyl spacers between CP backbones and polar side chains improved electronic charge carrier mobility, reduced swelling and enhanced stability, without compromising ion transport. However, how alkyl spacers impact polymer backbone conformation and, subsequently, electronic properties remain unclear. In this work, we design two oxy-bithiophene-based CP series, each featuring progressively extended alkyl spacer lengths and two distinct molecular weight (MW) distributions. Using operando characterisations, we evaluate the (spectro)electrochemical and swelling properties of the polymer thin films, and their performance in organic field-effect transistors and organic electrochemical transistors. Surprisingly, alkyl spacers negatively impact the hole mobility of our polymers, with higher MW amplifying this effect. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we show that it is thermodynamically favourable for adjacent non-polar alkyl spacers to aggregate in polar electrolytes, leading to backbone twisting. Further spectroscopic measurements corroborate this prediction. Our findings demonstrate the active interactions between side chain structure, MW and electrolyte/solvent polarity in influencing polymer performance, underscoring the importance of considering solvation environment effects on polymer conformation when designing new mixed conducting CPs for electrochemical applications.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2026

Effects of Dimethylamino Functional Group Substitution on the Physical, Structural and Radiolytic Properties of Pyridinium Ionic Liquids

A diverse range of 4-dimethylaminopyridinium (DMAP) bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-amide ionic liquids with specific functionalities (alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyalkyl and benzyl) were designed, characterized and compared with their pyridinium analogs in terms of their physical and radiolytic properties. The influence of the dimethylamino group on ionic liquid structure was investigated by X-ray diffraction and molecular dynamics simulations. The influence of the electron-donating ability of the dimethylamino-substituted cation is evident in the differences in the electronic density of states between the DMAP and pyridinium ILs. This leads to substantial changes in the radical transients observed in pulse radiolysis of the neat ILs. It was found that the DMAP salts were higher melting, more viscous and less conducting than their pyridinium analogs. However, the DMAP salts exhibited higher thermal stabilities and could therefore be useful for high-temperature applications.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1994

Interaction of a Model Peptide with a Water--Bilayer System

We discuss a molecular dynamics study of the alanine dipeptide at the interface between water and a glycerol-1-monooleate (GMO) bilayer. The dipeptide is interfacially active and incorporates into the bilayer without disrupting its structure. The interfacial region that is readily penetrated by the dipeptide spans the entire head group portion of the bilayer. The polar groups of the alanine dipeptide mostly remain well solvated by water and the oxygen atoms of GMO, and conformations of the dipeptide are characterized by (phi, psi) angles typical of alpha-helix and beta-sheet structures. When the molecule is deeper in the bilayer, the C(sub 7eq) state also becomes stable. The barrier to the isomerization reaction at the interface is lower than in bulk phases. After 7 ns of trajectories, the system is not fully equilibrated, due to slow collective motions involving GMO head groups. These result in decreased mobility and lower rates of isomerization of the dipeptide at the interface.

Pohorille, A.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Molecular-Level Insights into the Influence of Ionic Liquids on the Structure and Dynamics of Neutral and Charged Polyimides

We use all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to investigate how increasing ionic functionalization influences polyimide (PI) behavior in ionic liquid (IL) solvation environments. Here, we examine three polymer systems with varying charge densities: a neutral polyimide [N−PI] containing imidazole rings and progressively introduce charge through quaternization to create singly [C−PI] + and doubly charged [C−2PI] 2+ variants across a wide range of IL concentration (0−90 wt %). Through comprehensive structural, mechanical, and electrostatic analyses, we reveal that polymer charge density plays a central role in shaping IL organization and interaction with the polymer matrix. At low IL content, charged systems exhibit strong electrostatic complexation, leading to chain compaction, localized ESP environments, and elevated dielectric constants. As IL concentration increases, the effect of the different polymer charge states becomes less significant. Notably, an intermediate composition regime at approximately 50 wt % IL is associated with changes in IL-rich domain connectivity and overall system behavior across all three PI systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Discerning Influences from Enthalpy and Entropy at Aqueous Interfaces Involved in Biomass Conversions in Porous Catalysts

Project Summary: The goal in this proposal is to learn how solvent influences the enthalpies and entropies of catalytic species in zeolite pores. Specifically, the physical, chemical, and structural features of solvent, catalytic species, and zeolite pores that determine enthalpies and entropies of solvation in solution phase biomass conversions will be interrogated using multiscale simulations and machine learning. Multiscale simulations are based off of existing strategies and employ quantum mechanics and classical molecular dynamics, providing an excellent balance between chemical accuracy and computational expense. They are capable of calculating enthalpies and entropies of solvation separately and have been validated in prior work to achieve high accuracy compared to their parent methods.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2026

Charge accumulation and solvation in $β$-NiOOH: Surface chemistry of an OER catalyst from ML-aided simulations

Electrochemical water splitting is a key technology for a sustainable energy transition, providing a route to store surplus electricity from renewable sources. A central bottleneck is the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which drives the search for catalysts that are active, stable, and inexpensive enough for large-scale deployment. Within this context, pure and doped NiO x H y combine high activity with low cost, making them prime candidates for alkaline OER. Yet, despite extensive study, the atomistic structure of NiOOH under operando conditions and the associated reaction mechanisms remain debated. Here, we investigate the structural complexity of pure β-NiOOH, the scaffold for its doped derivatives. We systematically investigate the oxidation of the surface adsorbates via proton-coupled electron transfer steps across relevant facets and sites, identifying the most probable sequence of deprotonation events. Our results reveal asymmetric charge accumulation on Wulff-relevant surfaces and show how applied potential can promote morphological restructuring. Explicit solvation is included through machine-learning interatomic potential molecular dynamics of the NiOOH/water interface, which allows us to resolve the hydrophobic and hydrophilic character of different surfaces and the associated interfacial water structure. Together, these insights demonstrate how surface chemistry and solvation jointly govern the stability of NiOOH and the accumulation of surface charge, with possible implications for catalytic performance.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗