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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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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2009

NASA Benefits Earth

This slide presentation reviews several ways in which NASA research has benefited Earth and made life on Earth better. These innovations include: solar panels, recycled pavement, thermometer pill, invisible braces for straightening teeth, LASIK, aerodynamic helmets and tires for bicycles, cataract detection, technology that was used to remove Anthrax spores from mail handling facilities, study of atomic oxygen erosion of materials has informed the restoration of artwork, macroencapsulation (a potential mechanism to deliver anti cancer drugs to specific sites), and research on a salmonella vaccine. With research on the International Space Station just beginning, there will be opportunities for entrepreneurs and other government agencies to access space for their research and development. As well as NASA continuing its own research on human health and technology development.

Robinson, Julie A.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Treatment to Control Adhesion of Silicone-Based Elastomers

Seals are used to facilitate the joining of two items, usually temporarily. At some point in the future, it is expected that the items will need to be separated. This innovation enables control of the adhesive properties of silicone-based elastomers. The innovation may also be effective on elastomers other than the silicone-based ones. A technique has been discovered that decreases the level of adhesion of silicone- based elastomers to negligible levels. The new technique causes less damage to the material compared to alternative adhesion mitigation techniques. Silicone-based elastomers are the only class of rubber-like materials that currently meet NASA s needs for various seal applications. However, silicone-based elastomers have natural inherent adhesive properties. This stickiness can be helpful, but it can frequently cause problems as well, such as when trying to get items apart. In the past, seal adhesion was not always adequately addressed, and has caused in-flight failures where seals were actually pulled from their grooves, preventing subsequent spacecraft docking until the seal was physically removed from the flange via an extravehicular activity (EVA). The primary method used in the past to lower elastomer seal adhesion has been the application of some type of lubricant or grease to the surface of the seal. A newer method uses ultraviolet (UV) radiation a mixture of UV wavelengths in the range of near ultraviolet (NUV) and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) wavelengths.

deGroh, Henry C., III↗
NASA NTRS2014

Color Changing Material for Hydrogen Leak Detection

Kennedy Space Center scientists developed a hydrogen leak sensor utilizing a combination of chemochromic pigment and polymer that can be molded or fiber spun into rigid or flexible shapes such as tape. The sensor turns a dark color when exposed to hydrogen gas. This sensor has proven to be very effective for pinpointing the exact location of leaks in hydrogen gas lines and fittings at launch pads. Kennedy Space Center exclusively licensed this technology to the University of Central Florida (UCF), who also holds patents that are complimentary to KSC's. UCF has bundled the patents and exclusively licensed the portfolio to HySense Technology LLC, a startup company founded by a UCF professor who supports the UCF Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC). HySense has fully developed its product (known as Intellipigment"TM"), and currently has five commercial customers. The company recently won the $100,000 first-place award at the CAT5 innovation competition at the Innovation Concourse of the Southeast: Safety & Manufacturing event in Orlando, FL. Commercial production and sales of this technology by HySense Technology will make this leak sensor widely available for use by NASA, DoD, and industries that utilize hydrogen gas.

Material for Hyrogen↗
DOE OSTI2024

De Novo Design of Spiro-Type Hole-Transporting Material: Anisotropic Regulation Toward Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells

2,2',7,7'-Tetrakis(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenyl)-amine-9,9'-spirobifluorene (Spiro-OMeTAD) represents the state-of-the-art hole-transporting material (HTM) in n-i-p perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, its susceptibility to stability issues has been a long-standing concern. In this study, we embark on a comprehensive exploration of the untapped potential within the family of spiro-type HTMs using an innovative anisotropic regulation strategy. Diverging from conventional approaches that can only modify spirobifluorene with single functional group, this approach allows us to independently tailor the two orthogonal components of the spiro-skeleton at the molecular level. The newly designed HTM, SF-MPA-MCz, features enhanced thermal stability, precise energy level alignment, superior film morphology, and optimized interfacial properties when compared to Spiro-OMeTAD, which contribute to a remarkable power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 24.53% for PSCs employing SF-MPA-MCz with substantially improved thermal stability and operational stability. Note that the optimal concentration for SF-MPA-MCz solution is only 30 mg/ml, significantly lower than Spiro-OMeTAD (>70 mg/ml), which could remarkably reduce the cost especially for large-area processing in future commercialization. This work presents a promising avenue for the versatile design of multifunctional HTMs, offering a blueprint for achieving efficient and stable PSCs.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS2000

Novel Vibration Damping of Ceramic Matrix Composite Turbine Blades Developed for RLV Applications

The Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) represents the next generation of space transportation for the U.S. space program. The goal for this vehicle is to lower launch costs by an order of magnitude from $10,000/lb to $1,000/lb. Such a large cost reduction will require a highly efficient operation, which naturally will require highly efficient engines. The RS-2200 Linear Aerospike Engine is being considered as the main powerplant for the RLV. Strong, lightweight, temperature-resistant ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials such as C/SiC are critical to the development of the RS-2200. Preliminary engine designs subject turbopump components to extremely high frequency dynamic excitation, and ceramic matrix composite materials are typically lightly damped, making them vulnerable to high-cycle fatigue. The combination of low damping and high-frequency excitation creates the need for enhanced damping. Thus, the goal of this project has been to develop well-damped C/SiC turbine components for use in the RLV. Foster-Miller and Boeing Rocketdyne have been using an innovative, low-cost process to develop light, strong, highly damped turbopump components for the RS-2200 under NASA s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field is managing this work. The process combines three-dimensionally braided fiber reinforcement with a pre-ceramic polymer. The three-dimensional reinforcement significantly improves the structure over conventional two-dimensional laminates, including high through-the-thickness strength and stiffness. Phase I of the project successfully applied the Foster-Miller pre-ceramic polymer infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) process to the manufacture of dynamic specimens representative of engine components. An important aspect of the program has been the development of the manufacturing process. Results show that the three-dimensionally braided carbon-fiber reinforcement provides good processability and good mechanical stiffness and strength in comparison to materials produced with competing processes as shown in the graphs.

Min, James B.↗
NASA NTRS1992

New inertial actuator provides isolation and stabilization in microgravity conditions

Experiments in materials and fluids processing have been conducted, or are planned, that take advantage of the low-g environment offered by space-based platforms. While the specific goals of the experiments vary, a common objective is to see improved results from the processes over those that would be obtained from similar ground-based experiments. While the space-based processing environment does offer a low-g environment, it is not disturbance free. Results of experiments already conducted, particularly those in manned vehicles, show that spacecraft induced disturbances still limit what can be achieved in materials processing. The duration of actual micro-g level environments is shorter than desired and periods of milli-g activity levels are not uncommon. While small scale experiments can be configured to overcome some of the vehicle disturbance sources, larger scale processing devices and commercial activities will require alternative methods to reduce the influences of spacecraft vibrations. Applied Technology Associates, Inc., (ATA), in cooperation with NASA Lewis Research Center, is developing hardware to provide a sustained micro-g experiment environment. This work is being sponsored under a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, which is currently in the Phase 2 development stage. ATA's approach is based on an inertial actuator, which when used as part of a closed-loop stabilization system, rejects unwanted disturbances to the experiment package. A prototype of the actuator has been fabricated and used in a laboratory demonstration to prove the principle of operation. ATA's presentation emphasized the development and testing of the Digital Materials Processing Experiment (DAMPER) inertial actuator. Physical and performance characteristics of the device are presented. Technical issues, including further optimization of the actuator's performance and plans for additional laboratory experiments, are also covered.

Blackburn, John↗
DOE OSTI2023

Density Measurements of Plutonium Bearing Salts via Neutron Beam Dilatometry (Final Report for Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) Voucher NE-21-25117)

A novel neutron radiographic technique was developed and implemented to measure the change in volume as a function of temperature of select plutonium-containing liquid chloride mixtures from melt to 1250 K. These measurements were performed at Los Alamos National Laboratory by members of the molten salt research group under support from Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) voucher NE-21-25117: “Density Measurements of Plutonium Bearing Salts via Neutron Beam Dilatometry”.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Optimized In Situ Doping Strategy Stabling Single-Crystal Ultrahigh-Nickel Layered Cathode Materials

Single-crystal Ni-rich cathodes offer promising prospects in mitigating intergranular microcracks and side reaction issues commonly encountered in conventional polycrystalline cathodes. However, the utilization of micrometer-sized single-crystal particles has raised concerns about sluggish Li + diffusion kinetics and unfavorable structural degradation, particularly in high Ni content cathodes. Herein, we present an innovative in situ doping strategy to regulate the dominant growth of characteristic planes in the singlecrystal precursor, leading to enhanced mechanical properties and effectively tackling the challenges posed by ultrahigh-nickel layered cathodes. Compared with the traditional dry-doping method, our in situ doping approach possesses a more homogeneous and consistent modifying effect from the inside out, ensuring the uniform distribution of doping ions with large radius (Nb, Zr, W, etc). Further, this mitigates the generally unsatisfactory substitution effect, thereby minimizing undesirable coating layers induced by different solubilities during the calcination process. Additionally, the uniformly dispersed ions from this in situ doping are beneficial for alleviating the two-phase coexistence of H2/H3 and optimizing the Li + concentration gradient during cycling, thus inhibiting the formation of intragranular cracks and interfacial deterioration. Consequently, the in situ doped cathodes demonstrate exceptional cycle retention and rate performance under various harsh testing conditions. Our optimized in situ doping strategy not only expands the application prospects of elemental doping but also offers a promising research direction for developing high-energy-density single-crystal cathodes with extended lifetime.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
NASA NTRS1993

An overview of the NASA textile composites program

The NASA Langley Research Center is conducting and sponsoring research to explore the benefits of textile reinforced composites for civil transport aircraft primary structures. The objective of this program is to develop and demonstrate the potential of affordable textile reinforced composite materials to meet design properties and damage tolerance requirements of advanced aircraft structures. In addition to in-house research, the program includes major participation by the aircraft industry and aerospace textile companies. The major program elements include development of textile preforms, processing science, mechanics of materials, experimental characterization of materials, and development and evaluation of textile reinforced composite structural elements and subcomponents. The NASA Langley in-house research is focused on science-based understanding of resin transfer molding (RTM), development of powder-coated towpreg processes, analysis methodology, and development of a performance database on textile reinforced composites. The focus of the textile industry participation is on development of multidirectional, damage-tolerant preforms, and the aircraft industry participation is in the areas of innovative design concepts, cost-effective fabrication, and testing of textile reinforced composite structural elements and subcomponents. Textile processes such as 3-D weaving, 2-D and 3-D braiding, and knitting/stitching are being compared with conventional laminated tape processes for improved damage tolerance. Through-the-thickness reinforcements offer significant damage tolerance improvements. However, these gains must be weighed against potential loss in in-plane properties such as strength and stiffness. Analytical trade studies are underway to establish design guidelines for the application of textile material forms to meet specific loading requirements. Fabrication and testing of large structural components are required to establish the full potential of textile reinforced composite materials. The goals of the NASA Langley-sponsored research program are to demonstrate technology readiness with subscale composite components by 1995 and to verify the performance of full-scale composite primary aircraft structural components by 1997. The status of textile reinforced composite structural elements under development by Boeing, Douglas, Lockheed, and Grumman are presented. Included are braided frames and woven/stitched wing and fuselage panels.

Dexter, H. Benson↗
DOE OSTI2024

Meshfree Process Modeling and Experimental Validation of Friction Riveting of Aluminum 5052 to Aluminum 6061

Friction riveting (Fric-riveting) is an innovative, fast, and energy-efficient process for spot-joining metal-metal structures. Although fric-riveting has been studied experimentally in recent years, its process modeling is rarely found in the literature primarily because of the associated large material deformation, extreme thermomechanical conditions, and complex contact conditions. In this work, a mesh-free smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) framework that can well handle the abovementioned numerical challenges is used to simulate the fric-riveting of AA5052 to AA6061. Predicted material morphology, multi-point temperatures, and plunge force are thoroughly validated by experimental observations. The material severe plastic deformation zone in the vicinity of the riveting zone is further predicted by the SPH model, which indicates the material mixing and potential grain refinement zone. Based on the validated model, process parameters can be optimized which yields better performance over the baseline case.

Friction riveting (fric-riveting), Smoothed partic↗
DOE OSTI2023

Engineered bone marrow as a clinically relevant ex vivo model for primary bone cancer research and drug screening

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone cancer in children and adolescents. While numerous other cancers now have promising therapeutic advances, treatment options for OS have remained unchanged since the advent of standard chemotherapeutics and offer less than a 25% 5-y survival rate for those with metastatic disease. This dearth of clinical progress underscores a lack of understanding of OS progression and necessitates the study of this disease in an innovative system. Here, we adapt a previously described engineered bone marrow (eBM) construct for use as a three-dimensional platform to study how microenvironmental and immune factors affect OS tumor progression. We form eBM by implanting acellular bone-forming materials in mice and explanting the cellularized constructs after 8 wk for study. We interrogate the influence of the anatomical implantation site on eBM tissue quality, test ex vivo stability under normoxic (5% O 2 ) and standard (21% O 2 ) culture conditions, culture OS cells within these constructs, and compare them to human OS samples. We show that eBM stably recapitulates the composition of native bone marrow. OS cells exhibit differential behavior dependent on metastatic potential when cultured in eBM, thus mimicking in vivo conditions. Furthermore, we highlight the clinical applicability of eBM as a drug-screening platform through doxorubicin treatment and show that eBM confers a protective effect on OS cells that parallel clinical responses. Combined, this work presents eBM as a cellular construct that mimics the complex bone marrow environment that is useful for mechanistic bone cancer research and drug screening.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Foreword: Special Section on Multiphysics Aspects of Power Electronics Packaging—Power Die, Power Module, and Converter Level: Part 2

Power electronics are increasingly being used to condition electricity for a wide array of applications, such as transportation (on land, air, and water), data centers, radio frequency, directed energy, wind, solar, and grid-tied applications. Here, to increase power density, performance, efficiency, and reliability-as well as to reduce cost-innovations and developments are needed in the multiphysics packaging of power electronics at a die, module, and converter level. This includes fundamental R&D related to emerging high-voltage, high-temperature, and high-switching-frequency power electronics, packaging materials, thermal materials and interfaces, fluid-based thermal management technologies, reliability, condition monitoring, and prognostics. Latest developments in this area are published as a Special Section on Multiphysics Aspects of Power Electronics Packaging. The first part was published in the May 2024 issue of the IEEE Transactions on Components, Packaging and Manufacturing Technology (Volume 14, Issue 5). The second part of that Special Section is being published in this issue. A brief summary of the papers included in the second part are given below.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Small-scale production of bespoke accelerated aging plutonium alloy

Here, this study demonstrates the 100 g scale manufacture of a plutonium alloy that ages at an accelerated rate. The resulting alloy ages six times faster than typical weapons-grade plutonium due to the addition of 238 Pu. As a major innovation, the process involved using a partial direct oxide reduction technique. This method was achieved by developing a new, complex geometry stirrer using additive manufacturing to reduce the 238Pu oxide and efficiently incorporate it into weapons-grade plutonium metal. The material was then purified by molten salt extraction and electrorefining before being alloyed with gallium. The alloy was then cold-rolled and annealed in a homogenization heat treatment. The resulting disk was characterized by metallography and differential scanning calorimetry, and the impurity content was determined using analytical chemistry techniques. The results show that a homogeneous delta phase plutonium alloy was achieved with expected microstructure and minimal impurities. This study was also successful in changing the plutonium isotopic composition by incorporating additional 238 Pu to accelerate the effects of radiation damage. This enables researchers to study long-term aging phenomena in a reduced time frame, thus avoiding the need for large-scale material production and circumventing the limitations of using naturally aged, archived plutonium.

Aging theory↗
DOE OSTI2026

An Educational Program on Concentrated Solar Power and Heliostats for Power Generation and Industrial Processes

The objective of this project was to design and implement a comprehensive educational and applied research program in Concentrated Solar Thermal Power (CSTP) and heliostat technologies at Northeastern University. In alignment with the U.S. Department of Energy's Heliostat Consortium (HelioCon) goals, the project aimed to expand student and public understanding of CSTP systems while simultaneously contributing to workforce development and the broader decarbonization strategy. A particular emphasis was placed on integrating hands-on student design projects and publicly disseminating educational content relevant to CSTP systems. The project addressed a critical gap in renewable energy education: CSTP and heliostats, despite their importance in utility-scale solar energy, are rarely included in standard mechanical engineering programs. This project established new pathways for students to engage with the topic through the creation of a 4-credit graduate/senior elective course, development of five industry-facing short courses, and the inclusion of CSTP-based capstone design projects. Over two academic years, 36 students across six senior design teams developed and tested technologies such as deformable heliostats, beacon-based tracking systems, and solar-powered pyrolizers for biomass-to-biochar conversion. Concurrently, 30 undergraduate and graduate students were enrolled in the new academic course centered around CSTP principles. To ensure the relevance and accessibility of the short course content, the project team engaged with industry professionals, technical policy stakeholders, and potential course participants through structured surveys and informal consultations. Feedback from 28 respondents guided the structure, length, and delivery format of the courses - resulting in a modular design broken into five workshops. The feedback emphasized the need for flexible, asynchronous delivery and practical case studies, particularly in areas such as heliostat control, thermal storage, and solar fuel production. This engagement helped align the courses with the evolving knowledge demands of the renewable energy workforce and ensured that participants from both technical and policy backgrounds could meaningfully benefit from the material. The research and educational activities advanced the understanding of heliostat control systems, optical performance under misalignment, and thermal system integration in solar-driven pyrolysis applications. Methods and designs explored in this project proved to be both technically effective and economically feasible at the lab scale. Prototypes were constructed using commercially available components and custom-fabricated elements, demonstrating that meaningful performance improvements can be achieved with modest material and fabrication costs, supporting the feasibility of student-led research in this field. The public benefit of this project is twofold. First, it cultivates a pipeline of engineers trained to be familiar with CSTP principles, an essential workforce need identified by the Department of Energy for achieving its 2030 cost and deployment targets. Second, it contributes openly accessible educational materials, course content, and experimental frameworks to the broader community, enabling other institutions to adopt or adapt similar programming. Through outreach activities, curriculum integration, and technical exposure, this project contributes to a more informed and capable renewable energy workforce while supporting innovation in heliostat and CSTP system design. A new technical report is being prepared to document the development of the course and its outcomes, with plans to publish it in the ASME Open Access Journal of Engineering to ensure global accessibility, free of cost.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1996

Shape-Memory-Alloy-Based Deicing System Developed

Ice buildup on aircraft leading edge surfaces has historically been a problem. Most conventional deicing systems rely either on surface heating to melt the accreted ice or pneumatic surface inflation to mechanically debond the ice. Deicers that rely solely on surface heating require large amounts of power. Pneumatic deicers usually cannot remove thin layers of ice and lack durability. Thus, there is a need for an advanced, low-power ice protection system. As part of the NASA Small Business and Innovation Research (SBIR) program, Innovative Dynamics, Inc., developed an aircraft deicing system that utilizes the properties of Shape Memory Alloys (SMA). The SMA-based system has achieved promising improvements in energy efficiency and durability over more conventional deicers. When they are thermally activated, SMA materials change shape; this is analogous to a conventional thermal expansion. The thermal input is currently applied via conventional technology, but there are plans to implement a passive thermal input that is supplied from the energy transfer due to the formation of the ice itself. The actively powered deicer was tested in the NASA Lewis Icing Research Tunnel on a powered rotating rig in early 1995. The system showed promise, deicing both rime and glaze ice shapes as thin as 1/8 in. The first prototype SMA deicer reduced power usage by 45 percent over existing electrothermal systems. This prototype system was targeted for rotorcraft system development. However, there are current plans underway to develop a fixed-wing version of the deicer.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2023

Compact Lightweight Aerial Sensor System (CLASSy)

In the wake of increasingly intense wildfires, innovative solutions are imperative to enhance wildfire mitigation strategies. Current technological integrations have hit a communicative limit. Between limited flight time, computational expenses as well as financial expenses, there is a hole in the market for an effective, low-tech, and disposable solution. The Compact Lightweight Aerial Sensor System (CLASSy) is designed to revolutionize active disaster operations through comprehensive decision support. CLASSy consists of a lightweight launch mechanism and a flight body equipped with a sensor package and parachute. The assembly integrates sensor networks with data analytics to provide real-time, high-resolution information to incident commanders, directly facilitating decision-making and resource allocation. Infrared imagery and temperature differentials are processed and analyzed throughout flight, offering valuable insights into fire behavior, hotspot detection, and fire spread trajectories. CLASSy is intended to meet a variety of natural disaster mitigation needs through its variable launch height and disposability. CLASSy’s goal is to assist wildfire fighting without taking up any human or material resources. As a result, CLASSy is as lightweight as possible, easily expendable, inexpensive to manufacture, and only requires one operator for effective use. CLASSy’s integrated sensor suite, real-time analytics, and closed loop active communications empower firefighting teams to proactively address wildfire challenges. As the frequency of wildfires continues to rise, technological innovations like CLASSy are crucial to effective wildfire management systems.

Kyleigh Anderson↗
DOE OSTI2023

Aerosol jet printing of piezoelectric surface acoustic wave thermometer

Abstract Surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices are a subclass of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) that generate an acoustic emission when electrically stimulated. These transducers also work as detectors, converting surface strain into readable electrical signals. Physical properties of the generated SAW are material dependent and influenced by external factors like temperature. By monitoring temperature-dependent scattering parameters a SAW device can function as a thermometer to elucidate substrate temperature. Traditional fabrication of SAW sensors requires labor- and cost- intensive subtractive processes that produce large volumes of hazardous waste. This study utilizes an innovative aerosol jet printer to directly write consistent, high-resolution, silver comb electrodes onto a Y-cut LiNbO 3 substrate. The printed, two-port, 20 MHz SAW sensor exhibited excellent linearity and repeatability while being verified as a thermometer from 25 to 200 ∘ C. Sensitivities of the printed SAW thermometer are $$-96.9\times 1{0{}^{-6}}^{\circ }$$ − 96.9 × 1 0 − 6 ∘ C −1 and $$-92.0\times 1{0{}^{-6}}^{\circ }$$ − 92.0 × 1 0 − 6 ∘ C −1 when operating in pulse-echo mode and pulse-receiver mode, respectively. These results highlight a repeatable path to the additive fabrication of compact high-frequency SAW thermometers.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗