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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 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1976

Thermogravimetric study of reduction of oxides present in oxidized nickel-base alloy powders

Carbon, hydrogen, and hydrogen plus carbon reduction of three oxidized nickel-base alloy powders (a solid solution strengthened alloy both with and without the gamma prime formers aluminum and titanium and the solid solution strengthened alloy NiCrAlY) were evaluated by thermogravimetry. Hydrogen and hydrogen plus carbon were completely effective in reducing an alloy containing chromium, columbium, tantalum, molybdenum, and tungsten. However, with aluminum and titanium present the reduction was limited to a weight loss of about 81 percent. Carbon alone was not effective in reducing any of the alloys, and none of the reducing conditions were effective for use with NiCrAlY.

Herbell, T. P.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Breakthrough innovations in carbon dioxide mineralization for a sustainable future

Greenhouse gas emissions and climate change concerns have prompted worldwide initiatives to lower carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) levels and prevent them from rising in the atmosphere, thereby controlling global warming. Effective CO 2 management through carbon capture and storage is essential for safe and permanent storage, as well as synchronically meeting carbon reduction targets. Lowering CO 2 emissions through carbon utilization can develop a wide range of new businesses for energy security, material production, and sustainability. CO 2 mineralization is one of the most promising strategies for producing thermodynamically stable solid calcium or magnesium carbonates for long-term sequestration using simple chemical reactions. Current advancements in CO 2 mineralization technologies, focusing on pathways and mechanisms using different industrial solid wastes, including natural minerals as feedstocks, are briefly discussed. However, the operating costs, energy consumption, reaction rates, and material management are major barriers to the application of these technologies in CO 2 mineralization. Further, the optimization of operating parameters, tailor-made equipment, and smooth supply of waste feedstocks require more attention to make the carbon mineralization process economically and commercially viable. Here, carbonation mechanisms, technological options to expedite mineral carbonation, environmental impacts, and prospects of CO 2 mineralization technologies are critically evaluated to suggest a pathway for mitigating climate change in the future. The integration of industrial wastes and brine with the CO 2 mineralization process can unlock its potential for the development of novel chemical pathways for the synthesis of calcium or magnesium carbonates, valuable metal recovery, and contribution to sustainability goals while reducing the impact of global warming.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Normal or abnormal? Machine learning for the leakage detection in carbon sequestration projects using pressure field data

The international commitments for atmospheric carbon reduction will require a rapid increase in carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects. The key to any successful CCS project lies in the long term storage and prevention of leakage of stored carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). In addition to being a greenhouse gas, CO 2 leaks reaching the surface can accumulate in low-lying areas resulting in a serious health risk. Among several alternatives, some of the more promising CCS storage formations are depleted oil and gas reservoirs, where the reservoirs had good geological seals prior to hydrocarbon extraction. With more CCS wells coming online, it is imperative to implement permanent, automated monitoring tools. We apply machine learning models to automate the leakage detection process in carbon storage reservoirs using rates of (CO 2 ) injection and pressure data measured by simple harmonic pulse testing (HPT). To validate the feasibility of this machine learning based workflow, we use data from HPT experiments carried out in the Cranfield oil field, Mississippi, USA. The data consist of a series of pulse tests conducted with baseline parameters and with an artificially introduced leak. Here, in this study, we pose the leakage detection task as an anomaly detection problem where deviation from the predicted behavior indicates leaks in the reservoir. Results show that different machine learning architectures such as multi-layer feed forward network, Long Short-Term Memory, and convolutional neural network are able to identify leakages and can provide early warning. These warnings can then be used to take remedial measures.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Bioenergy: A Pathway to Decarbonization

An overview of BETO’s efforts to help engineer carbon reduction and decarbonize the atmosphere with improved carbon conversion technologies, along with bio-based alternatives to fossil fuels and petrochemical-related products.

biofuels, bioproducts, greenhouse gas, carbon foot↗
DOE OSTI2022

Modeling and Analysis of a Thermophotovoltaic Integrated Self-Powered Furnace

This work investigates the energy efficiency and carbon reduction potential of self-powered residential building heating equipment using a thermodynamic modeling approach. An integrated thermophotovoltaic power module and residential scale furnace system (40,000 Btu/h) were modeled and studied in detail to assess the influence of different design configurations on primary energy efficiency. Operational characteristics such as total power generation, electrical efficiency, and heat recovery were examined in a self-powered system configuration. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine the influence of the electric grid’s carbon dioxide footprint (carbon intensity) and the cost of electricity on the environmental, as well as the economic, benefit associated with the self-powered configuration. Compared with a traditional furnace powered by an electric grid at a carbon intensity of 0.5 kg CO 2eq /kWh EL , the self-powered furnace was shown to decrease the annual carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 550 kg (~75% reduction), while also saving more than USD 200 in utility expenses, annually. Additionally, the carbon emission reduction potential of blending different concentrations of hydrogen in natural gas fuel was also studied.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Screening binary alloys for electrochemical CO 2 reduction towards multi-carbon products

Electrochemical reduction of CO 2 (eCO 2 R) to high-value chemicals presents an attractive approach for utilizing CO 2 . Copper (Cu) is presently the only electrocatalyst that fulfills this purpose with notable activity, but selectivity remains a problem. To identify catalysts for eCO 2 R with high selectivity towards multicarbon (C 2(+) ) products, we explore binary systems composed of strongly and weakly CO binding metals alloyed with Cu, Fe, Co, Ni, and Pd. A total number of 142 alloys with two commonly studied configurations, L1 2 and L1 0 , are simulated with density functional theory (DFT). We leverage recent progress in the atomistic understanding of the eCO 2 R mechanism and use the binding energies of CO* and C* as descriptors when screening for C 2(+) selectivity. We evaluate the stability of the binary alloys by analyzing the formation energy of the clean alloy surfaces. Our theoretical screening identifies about 16 Cu-based alloys and 18 non-Cu based alloys with optimal C 2(+) selective properties for eCO 2 R. For the non-Cu based binary alloys, the p-block elements play an important role in tuning the C* and CO* adsorption energies. In terms of stability, most of the Cu-based systems alloyed with metals that exhibit strong CO* binding are unstable. Ni-based alloys are more stable than the Co-based alloys followed by the Fe-based alloys, and all the Pd-based alloys are stable. In general, the L1 0 structural Fe, Co, Ni, and Pd-based alloys are more stable than the corresponding L1 2 alloys. Our approach identifies materials known to have good C 2(+) selectivity, but it also proposes several other promising materials that have not previously been tested for eCO 2 R.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

The State of Virtual Healthcare

In recent years, telehealth or telemedicine has become an integral component of health systems. During the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth became the primary route of treatment for patients and doctors. The goals of telehealth are to make healthcare more accessible to patients who have limited mobility, time, or transportation options and those who live in rural or isolated communities. Telehealth aims to improve coordination and care between healthcare teams and their patients. While addressing accessibility, telehealth sets health systems on a path to meet their decarbonization and energy reduction goals. The document provides insights and best practices for telehealth, including carbon reduction, space utilization, equitable access, and technology.

Better Buildings, telehealth, carbon footprint↗
DOE OSTI2024

Biomass Resources and Emission Reduction Potential of Agricultural and Livestock Residues in Mainland China from 2013 to 2022

Controlling carbon emissions is a global goal, and China is actively implementing carbon reduction measures. As a major agricultural nation, China has considerable potential for developing agricultural residues as renewable and environmentally friendly biomass energy. In this study, we obtained data on crop yields, crop-to-grain ratios, and livestock excretion coefficients to calculate the biomass resources of agricultural and livestock residues in Chinese provinces from 2013 to 2022. Crop residue biomass resources showed a distribution pattern with higher levels in the north than in the south and the east than in the west. Henan and Heilongjiang provinces consistently had the highest resource levels, exceeding 35 million tons annually for 10 years. The biomass resources from livestock residues were relatively abundant in Sichuan, Henan, Yunnan, Shandong, Hunan, and Inner Mongolia. Inner Mongolia, Sichuan, Shandong, and Henan had the greatest potential for CO2 emission reductions, primarily located in regions abundant in biomass resources and with high traditional energy consumption levels. ArcGIS was used to apply natural break classification to categorize the potential for emission reductions from agricultural and livestock residues across China from 2013 to 2022 into five classes. Based on factors such as crop planting area and livestock numbers, the spatiotemporal distribution of factors influencing the quantity of biomass resources was examined using Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression. A tailored and integrated approach should be used for biomass, and the development of biomass energy should be promoted through policy support and technological innovation.

Environmental Sciences & Ecology↗
DOE OSTI2025

What drives embodied carbon policy? A global perspective on adoption

Abstract Embodied carbon refers to the greenhouse gas emission associated with the lifecycle of buildings. Embodied carbon policies are critical for addressing the environmental impact of construction materials and advancing climate goals. Despite their importance, the adoption of embodied carbon policies has been limited globally, influenced by economic, environmental, institutional, and trade factors. This study employs structural equation modeling to analyze 37 countries, testing ten hypotheses across four categorical factors. The base model reveals the significant influence of environmental vulnerability and institutional frameworks on policy adoption, while robustness models confirm the critical role of trade dependencies and economic competitiveness in shaping national embodied carbon strategies. Findings underscore that countries with high climate vulnerability and strong institutional support are more likely to adopt embodied carbon policies. Conversely, trade-reliant nations face challenges balancing competitiveness and sustainability. Policy implications suggest the need for international collaboration to align trade policies with carbon reduction goals, targeted support for vulnerable nations, and the integration of embodied carbon considerations into existing climate frameworks. These results offer a roadmap for policymakers to design more effective and equitable embodied carbon policies, fostering global progress toward sustainable construction and decarbonization.

Hu, Ming (ORCID:0000000325831161)↗
DOE OSTI2025

Transforming CO 2 to Porous Carbon as a High-Performing Sodium-Ion Battery Anode via Electrochemical Reduction in Molten Carbonates

The prevalence of sodium over lithium prompts exploration of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) as a viable alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Hard carbon has emerged as a promising anode material for SIBs, yet its synthesis poses sustainability challenges and emits pollutants. Here, in this study, we introduce CO 2 -derived porous carbon (graphitic and amorphous) as an anode for SIBs via electrochemical reduction of CO 2 in a molten eutectic carbonate salt at a lower temperature that yields materials with controlled microstructure, morphology, and porosity conducive to energy storage. Our CO 2 -derived carbon demonstrates remarkable specific capacity, superior rate capability, and stable cycling performance as a SIB anode. This innovative strategy harnesses waste CO 2 toward advancing SIB energy technology.

CO2-derived carbon↗
DOE OSTI2024

China's plug-in hybrid electric vehicle transition: An operational carbon perspective

Assessing the emissions of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) operations is crucial for accelerating the carbon–neutral transition in the passenger car sector. This study is the first to adopt a bottom-up model to measure the real-world energy use and carbon dioxide emissions of China’s top twenty selling PHEV models across different regions from 2020 to 2022. The results indicate that (1) the actual electricity intensity of the best-selling PHEV models (20.2–38.2 kWh/100 km) was 30–40 % higher than the New European Driving Cycle values, and the actual gasoline intensity (4.7–23.5 L/100 km) was 3–6 times greater than the New European Driving Cycle values. (2) The overall energy use of the best-selling models varied among different regions, and the energy use from 2020 to 2022 in Southern China was double that Northern China and the Yangtze River Middle Reach. (3) The top-selling models emitted 4.7 megatons of carbon dioxide nationwide from 2020 to 2022, with 1.9 megatons released by electricity consumption and 2.8 megatons released by gasoline combustion. Furthermore, targeted policy implications for expediting the carbon–neutral transition within the passenger car sector are proposed. In essence, this study explores and compares benchmark data at both the national and regional levels, along with performance metrics associated with PHEV operations. The main objective is to aid nationwide decarbonization efforts, focusing on carbon reduction and promoting the rapid transition of road transportation toward a net-zero carbon future.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
NASA NTRS1978

High-purity silicon for solar cell applications

The article discusses the production of solar cells from high-purity silicon. The process consists of reducing the level of impurities in the raw materials, preventing material contamination before and after entering the furnace, and performing orders-of-magnitude reduction of metal impurity concentrations. The high-purity raw materials are considered with reference to carbon reductants, silica, and graphite electrodes. Attention is also given to smelting experiments used to demonstrate, in an experimental-scale furnace, the production of high-purity SoG-Si. It is found that high-purity silicon may be produced from high-purity quartz and chemically purified charcoal in a 50-kVA arc furnace. The major contamination source is shown to be impurities from the carbon reducing materials.

Dosaj, V. D.↗
DOE OSTI2023

The Role of Hydropower Flexibility in Integrating Renewables in a Low-Carbon Grid

In this study, we looked at the role of hydropower flexibility in variable renewable energy (VRE) integration. Our focus was on facilities that have at least ten hours of storage, i.e., plants that are "dispatchable" and have capacity values similar to that of fossil-fired generation. For our modeling framework, we used NREL's Mid-Case/95% Carbon Reduction by 2035 standard scenario as our foundation. This zonal model is representative of the buildout of a near-zero carbon policy grid in an otherwise "business-as-usual" policy and economic environment. We chose this scenario because it aligns well with the Administration's net-zero carbon grid by 2035 goal.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Transition Metal Nitrides as Promising Catalyst Supports for Tuning CO/H 2 Syngas Production from Electrochemical CO 2 Reduction

The electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) to produce synthesis gas (syngas) with tunable CO/H 2 ratios has been studied by supporting Pd catalysts on transition metal nitride (TMN) substrates. Combining experimental measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, Pd-modified niobium nitride (Pd/NbN) is found to generate much higher CO and H 2 partial current densities and greater CO Faradaic efficiency than Pd-modified vanadium nitride (Pd/VN) and commercial Pd/C catalysts. In-situ X-ray diffraction identifies the formation of PdH in Pd/NbN and Pd/C under CO 2 RR conditions, whereas the Pd in Pd/VN is not fully transformed into the active PdH phase. DFT calculations show that the stabilized *HOCO and weakened *CO intermediates on PdH/NbN are critical to achieving higher CO 2 RR activity. This work suggests that NbN is a promising substrate to modify Pd, resulting in an enhanced electrochemical conversion of CO 2 to syngas with a potential reduction in precious metal loading.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Radiocarbon analysis as a method for verifying atmospheric CO 2 uptake during carbon mineralization

Sequestration of atmospheric CO 2 is required to constrain the warming of Earth’s climate. Carbon mineralization refers to the precipitation of carbonate minerals by reaction of CO 2 and Mg- and Ca-rich rocks; if the source of the CO 2 is atmospheric and the precipitated carbonate is protected from subsequent dissolution, this process at sufficient scale may be able to reliably draw down atmospheric greenhouse gas levels. Such reactions occur passively in ultramafic settings and previous work has demonstrated that they actively draw down local CO 2 (g) concentrations. However, a method for unambiguously attributing the sequestered carbon solid product to atmospheric sources is still lacking. Here, we test if radiocarbon can be used to verify that the carbon being incorporated into carbonate minerals during carbon mineralization is atmospheric in origin. Additionally, samples from recently exposed ultramafic sites are analyzed and the results demonstrate the utility of this technique for verifying true atmospheric carbon reduction.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Reducing Grid Costs while Abating Emissions: Opportunities for Flexible Building Loads

This study evaluates the value of technology-agnostic, shiftable flexible building loads in modeled 2030 and 2040 U.S. grids for four types of customers under three potential aggregated distributed energy resources programs. The value examined includes monetary value from providing grid services (e.g., energy, capacity, flexibility reserve, regulation reserve, contingency reserve) and from reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By comparing more than 845,164,800 simulated shifting opportunities, the study finds that the timing of consumption is critical for profit-driven customers. A program that is activated for 30 critical hours of system operation can result in to $73 per year in revenue for 1 kWh of shiftable load. Emission reduction, on the other hand, is best accumulated through a year-round program: 1 kWh of shiftable load can lead to up to 487.9 kg CO2e carbon reduction per year. The report also provides detailed insights on the trade-off between revenue and emissions, regional variation, short- versus medium- term value, and impacts from various building flexibility parameters, such as shifting window and dissipation.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2020

Decarbonizing US passenger vehicle transport under electrification and automation uncertainty has a travel budget

Abstract The transportation sector is at the beginning of a transition represented by electrification, shared mobility, and automation, which could lead to either increases or decreases in total travel and energy use. Understanding the factors enabling deep decarbonization of the passenger vehicle sector is essential for planning the required infrastructure investments and technology adoption policies. We examine the requirements for meeting carbon reduction targets of 80% and higher for passenger vehicle transport in the United States (US) by midcentury under uncertainty. We model the changes needed in vehicle electrification, electricity carbon intensity, and travel demand. Since growth in fleet penetration of electric vehicles (EVs) is constrained by fleet stock turnover, we estimate the EV penetration rates needed to meet climate targets. We find for a base case level of passenger vehicle travel, midcentury deep decarbonization of US passenger transport is conditional on reducing the electricity generation carbon intensity to close to zero along with electrification of about 67% or 84% of vehicle travel to meet decarbonization targets of 80% or 90%, respectively. Higher electricity generation carbon intensity and degraded EV fuel economy due to automation would require higher levels of fleet electrification and/or further constrain the total vehicle travel allowable. Transportation deep decarbonization not only depends on electricity decarbonization, but also has a total travel budget, representing a maximum total vehicle travel threshold that still enables meeting a midcentury climate target. This makes encouraging ride sharing, reducing total vehicle travel, and increasing fuel economy in both human-driven and future automated vehicles increasingly important to deep decarbonization.

Alarfaj, Abdullah F. (ORCID:0000000157360662)↗
DOE OSTI2023

Carbon Emissions in a Typical New Production Home: A Case Study

This report is intended to serve as a foundational document for residential construction executives and leadership teams to understand how a typical home currently performs relative to building decarbonization goals set for 2030 and 2050. The intent is to help homebuilders benchmark their current performance and better understand the largest sources of carbon emissions in their homes. There is a need to understand and assess current performance against net zero carbon goals to define achievable paths forward. This case study highlights opportunities for innovation and carbon reduction through advanced technologies and material choices.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗