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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 1,297 records · Page 72
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Selective sequential infiltration synthesis of ZnO in the liquid crystalline phase of silicon-containing rod-coil block copolymers

The combination of block copolymer (BCP) thin film self-assembly and selective infiltration synthesis of inorganic materials into one BCP block provides access to various organic–inorganic hybrids. Here, we apply sequential infiltration synthesis, a vapor-phase hybridization technique, to selectively introduce ZnO into the organic microdomains of silicon-containing rod-coil diblock copolymers and a triblock terpolymer, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-b-poly{2,5-bis[(4-methoxyphenyl)-oxycarbonyl]styrene} (PDMS-b-PMPCS) and PDMS-b-polystyrene-b-PMPCS (PDMS-b-PS-b-PMPCS), in which the PMPCS rod block is a liquid crystalline polymer. The in-plane cylindrical PDMS-b-PMPCS and core–shell cylindrical and hexagonally perforated lamellar PDMS-b-PS-b-PMPCS films were infiltrated with ZnO with high selectivity to the PMPCS. The etching contrast between PDMS, PS and the ZnO-infused PMPCS enables the fabrication of ZnO/SiO x binary composites by plasma etching and reveals the core–shell morphology of the triblock terpolymer.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Direct ladderization of cyclooctatetraene-containing, processable conjugated ladder polymers from annulated bis-zirconacyclopentadienes

Conjugated ladder polymers (CLPs) are difficult yet captivating synthetic targets due to their fully unsaturated fused backbones. Inherent challenges associated with their synthesis often lead to low yields, structural defects, and insoluble products. Here a new method to form CLPs is demonstrated, utilizing a high-yielding dimerization of annulated zirconacyclopentadienes to form cyclooctatetraene (COT) monomer units. The resulting COT-containing polymers form rapidly in a single ladderization step from the bis-zirconacyclopentadiene precursors and display M n up to 29.7 kg mol -1 . The polymers represent rare examples of CLPs with negatively curved rings, resulting in the observation of unusual properties. The rigid tub-shaped COT units embedded in the backbone imbue the polymers with microporosity, exhibiting BET surface areas up to 555 m 2 g -1 . Additionally, the remarkable solubility of these CLPs in organic solvents enables the fabrication of thin films showcasing high dielectric performance with a discharged energy density as high as 6.54 J cm -3 at 650 MV m -1 .

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

Solubility-limited depolymerization kinetics in the glycolysis of carbonyl-containing polymers

Chemical recycling of condensation polymers is often rationalized on the basis of the intrinsic reactivity of ester and carbonate functional groups. However, under heterogeneous conditions relevant to plastic waste processing and environmental degradation, bulk depolymerization rates often diverge from trends predicted by homogeneous chemistry. Here, we investigate how polymer–solvent compatibility, catalyst strength, and phase behavior govern the heterogeneous glycolysis of carbonyl-containing polymers. Using poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), glycol-modified PET (PETG), and bisphenol-A polycarbonate (PC) as model systems, we examine depolymerization kinetics at 180 °C with ethylene glycol and bisphenol A as diols under both amphoteric organosalt (TBD : MSA) and strong base (TBD) catalysis. Despite substantial differences in crystallinity and glycol uptake, PET and PETG depolymerize at comparable rates under organosalt catalysis, while PC depolymerizes significantly more slowly under identical conditions. Time-resolved molecular weight analysis and thermal characterization demonstrate that these rate differences do not arise from crystallinity, swelling, or inherent carbonyl reactivity, but instead reflect solubility-limited kinetics that constrain the transition from heterogeneous to homogeneous reaction regimes. When polymer solubility is low, depolymerization remains heterogeneous and slow; when solubility is enhanced—either through increased polymer–diol compatibility or stronger base catalysis—rapid homogeneous depolymerization is observed, reversing apparent reactivity trends. These results establish solubility and phase behavior as primary determinants of depolymerization kinetics in heterogeneous polymer recycling systems. By demonstrating how catalyst selection and solvent compatibility can expose or overcome solubility limitations, this work provides mechanistic insight to design more energy-efficient and selective chemical recycling processes. More broadly, these findings suggest that polymers with limited solvent or water compatibility may resist chemical degradation in the environment, favoring fragmentation and persistence as micro- and nanoplastics. Understanding solubility-controlled depolymerization offers a pathway toward more sustainable polymer design and end-of-life chemical recovery.

Watson-Sanders, Shelby [Department of Chemistry, U↗
DOE OSTI2019

Evaluating Solid Sorbents for Recycling Wash Waters Containing Strontium and Calcium

We have developed a system for rapid reduction of radioactive contamination and capture and recycling of contaminated wash waters called Integrated Wash-Aid, Treatment, and Emergency Reuse System (IWATERS). IWATERS prescribes the use of wash waters containing salt additives to enhance the removal of radionuclides from various surfaces and solid sorbents to remove the radionuclides selectively. One possible additive to the wash water is Ca2+ . However, the concentration of this ion can have a very strong detrimental effect on the ability of sequestration agents to sorb strontium effectively. A literature review, batch tests, and surface complexation modeling revealed a few sorbent options for Sr2+ in the presence of Ca2+. Engineered silicotitanate sorbents exhibited superior Kd values in the presence of Ca2+ but have significant drawbacks in cost and availability.

Oster, Christopher↗
DOE OSTI2012

Effects of B-site chemistry on BiFeO[subscript 3]-containing enhanced tetragonality systems

The ternary perovskite systems PbTiO{sub 3}-BiFeO{sub 3}-Bi(Mg{sub 1/2}Ti{sub 1/2})O{sub 3} and PbTiO{sub 3}-BiFeO{sub 3}-BiScO{sub 3} were investigated to clarify the relationship between the observance of multiple dielectric transitions and B-site chemistry. Multiple dielectric transitions were observed for a range of compositions in the Bi(Mg{sub 1/2}Ti{sub 1/2})O{sub 3}-containing system. A temperature-dependent diffraction study confirmed the existence of a cubic and tetragonal co-existence region at temperatures between the two transitions. No similar dielectric behavior was observed in the PbTiO{sub 3}-BiFeO{sub 3}-BiScO{sub 3} system.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2012

Effect of guide field on lower-hybrid drift instabilities in current sheet containing energetic particles

The effect of a guide field on the linear lower-hybrid drift instability (LHDI) in a thin current sheet containing energetic particles is investigated using kinetic theory. It is found that the symmetry properties of the LHD modes are destroyed by the guide field. The LHDI growth rate decreases with the strength of the latter, and the perturbed magnetic field is much higher than that of the guide-field free case.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2012

Light-induced electron paramagnetic resonance evidence of charge transfer in electrospun fibers containing conjugated polymer/fullerene and conjugated polymer/fullerene/carbon nanotube blends

Electrospun sub-micron fibers containing conjugated polymer (poly(3-hexylthiophene), P3HT) with a fullerene derivative, phenyl-C61-butyric acid methylester (PCBM) or a mixture of PCBM and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were studied by light-induced electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The results provide experimental evidence of electron transfer between PCBM and P3HT components in both fiber systems and suggest that the presence of a dispersing block-copolymer, which acts via physical adsorption onto the PCBM and SWCNT moieties, does not prevent electron transfer at the P3HT-PCBM interface. These findings suggest a research perspective towards utilization of fibers of functional nanocomposites in fiber-based organic optoelectronic and photovoltaic devices. The latter can be developed in the textile-type large area photovoltaics or individual fiber-based solar cells that will broaden energy applications from macro-power tools to micro-nanoscale power conversion devices and smart textiles.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2013

Electron-vibration energy exchange models in nitrogen-containing plasma flows

The physics of vibrational kinetics in nitrogen-containing plasma produced by collisions with electrons is studied on the basis of recently derived cross sections and rate coefficients for the resonant vibrational-excitation by electron-impact. The temporal relaxation of the vibrational energy and of the vibrational distribution function is analyzed in a state-to-state approach. The electron and vibrational temperatures are varied in the range [0-50 000] K. Conclusions are drawn with respect to the derivation of reduced models and to the accuracy of a relaxation time formalism. An analytical fit of the vibrational relaxation time is given.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2013

Behaviour and stability of Trivelpiece-Gould modes in non-neutral plasma containing small density fraction of background gas ions

It is shown that the frequencies of Trivelpiece-Gould (TG) modes in non-neutral plasma can get into the low-frequency range due to the Doppler shift caused by plasma rotation in crossed fields. TG modes interact with the ion modes that leads to plasma instability. In paper the frequency spectrum of 'cold' electron plasma completely filling a waveguide and containing small density fraction of ions of background gas is determined numerically. For ions the kinetic description is used. Oscillations having azimuthal number m= 2 are considered. In this case both low- and upper-hybrid TG modes get into the low-frequency range. The spectrum consists of families of 'modified' ion cyclotron (MIC) modes and electron TG modes with the frequencies equal to hybrid frequencies with the Doppler shift. The growth rates of upper-hybrid modes are much faster than the growth rates of low-hybrid and MIC modes.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2013

Investigation of anisotropic photonic band gaps in three-dimensional magnetized plasma photonic crystals containing the uniaxial material

In this paper, the dispersive properties of three-dimensional (3D) magnetized plasma photonic crystals (MPPCs) composed of anisotropic dielectric (the uniaxial material) spheres immersed in homogeneous magnetized plasma background with face-centered-cubic (fcc) lattices are theoretically investigated by the plane wave expansion method, as the Voigt effects of magnetized plasma are considered. The equations for calculating the anisotropic photonic band gaps (PBGs) in the first irreducible Brillouin zone are theoretically deduced. The anisotropic PBGs and two flatbands regions can be obtained. The effects of the ordinary-refractive index, extraordinary-refractive index, filling factor, plasma frequency, and external magnetic field on the dispersive properties of the 3D MPPCs are investigated in detail, respectively, and some corresponding physical explanations are also given. The numerical results show that the anisotropy can open partial band gaps in 3D MPPCs with fcc lattices and the complete PBGs can be found compared to the conventional 3D MPPCs doped by the isotropic material. The bandwidths of PBGs can be tuned by introducing the magnetized plasma into 3D PCs containing the uniaxial material. It is also shown that the anisotropic PBGs can be manipulated by the ordinary-refractive index, extraordinary-refractive index, filling factor, plasma frequency, and external magnetic field, respectively. The locations of flatbands regions cannot be manipulated by any parameters except for the plasma frequency and external magnetic field. Introducing the uniaxial material can obtain the complete PBGs as the 3D MPPCs with high symmetry and also provides a way to design the tunable devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2013

Wetting kinetics of water nano-droplet containing non-surfactant nanoparticles: A molecular dynamics study

In this Letter, dynamic wetting of water nano-droplets containing non-surfactant gold nanoparticles on a gold substrate is examined via molecular dynamics simulations. The results show that the addition of non-surfactant nanoparticles hinders the nano-second droplet wetting process, attributed to the increases in both surface tension of the nanofluid and friction between nanofluid and substrate. The droplet wetting kinetics decreases with increasing nanoparticle loading and water-particle interaction energy. The observed wetting suppression and the absence of nanoparticle ordering near the contact line of nano-sized droplets differ from the wetting behaviors reported from nanofluid droplets of micron size or larger.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗