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At least 1,585 records · Page 88

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NASA NTRS2024

3D Printed Materials Characterization for Rapid Prototyping and Plant Growth

Through KSC IRTD funding in 2022, this project brought a list of 18, 3D printed filaments into formal characterization testing to provide a reference for their behaviors under relevant applications. The project format set up a series of tests to expose 3D printed specimens. A total of 1,989 individual 3D printed test specimens were sent across KSC to be scrutinized by three laboratories to fulfill a multidisciplinary assessment of each material TRL. Testing started with 18 materials. Initially, seed germination assays in the PPA, sample materials were enclosed in petri dishes with lettuce seeds on damp germination paper. No significant impacts on lettuce seed germination were observed in this testing. Next, sample coupons were printed and sent for materials testing to the KSC Analysis/Mechanical and Environmental Testing Laboratory, where they were subjected to 14- and 30-day soak periods in solutions used to provide nutrients to plants or to sanitize hardware before and after use. Following a long soak typical of a 30-day plant growout in Hoagland’s solution, 14 materials gained more than 10% of their own mass. This indicated an increased potential for leaching or providing conditions that are not food safe. Materials that exceeded 15% absorption by mass were eliminated from further testing. Based off this result, the team continued with a core list of nine filaments to fulfill Tensile, Flexural, Biofilm formation, and plant growth testing. Those materials were PLA (Raise3D), ABS (Raise3D), PETG (PolyethyleneTerephthalate Glycol) (Raise3D), ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate) (Raise3D), PC (Polycarbonate) (Raise3D), TPU (Thermoplastic polyurethane)-95 (Raise3D), PLA Copper (Gizmodorks), PP (Polypropylene) (Braskem), and HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene) (Gizmodorks). Testing also quantified the spectral impact of using different color 3D printed surfaces in a growth chamber. The material used for spectral testing was PLA. Printing employed a standard surface texture representative of all materials. It was shown through Tensile Testing (ASTM D638-22) that the breaking force of a 3D printed part greatly varied depending on layer orientation. This is common through all materials, and demonstrates that the strength of a 3D printed component can be maximized by layering the material normal to the primary force on the part. Four-point flexural testing (ASTM D790) provided quantities of interest, Flexural modulus, Flexural strength, Flexural stress, and strain at break within a 5% strain limit from each of nine materials. Biofilm formation testing was conducted in the Molecular and Microbiological Laboratory. Testing completed on specimens from each material showed equal formation on the surface. Additional plant growth testing was conducted in the PPA beyond the initial germination testing. The final assessment documents that three materials (PLA, ABS, and PC) have reached TRL 6 through extensive testing, and ultimate end-to-end applied use in experimental or testing conditions (flight and ground). TRL 5 materials (ASA, TPU-95, PLA Copper, PP, PETG, and HIPS) have all been successfully applied in Research and Development for crop growth applications and are ready to be applied in formal testing. TRL 4 materials Nylon910, PLA Carbon Fiber, PPA CF, PPA Glass Fiber (GF), NinjaFlex, and P-filament 721 are materials that were able to be printed and tested, but have yet to show data meeting applied requirements. TRL 3 NylonX, Flex TPE-185, and Nylon were unable to be reliably printed to fulfill testing. These results provide researchers with reference for materials to use during plant growth experimentation, and also set a standard for future characterization work applying 3D printing and materials to testing, research, and experimentation.

Gioia Massa↗

DOE OSTI2013

Method and system for suppression of stimulated Raman scattering in laser materials

A composition of matter is provided having the general chemical formula K(H,D).sub.2P(.sup.16O.sub.x,.sup.18O.sub.y).sub.4, where x<0.998 or y>0.002, and x+y.apprxeq.1. Additionally, a method of fabricating an optical material by growth from solution is provided. The method includes providing a solution including a predetermined percentage of (H,D).sub.2.sup.16O and a predetermined percentage of (H,D).sub.2.sup.18O, providing a seed crystal, and supporting the seed crystal on a platform. The method also includes immersing the seed crystal in the solution and forming the optical material. The optical material has the general chemical formula K(H,D).sub.2P(.sup.16O.sub.x,.sup.18O.sub.y).sub.4, where x<0.998 or y>0.002, and x+y.apprxeq.1.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2015

Method and system for suppression of stimulated Raman scattering in laser materials

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2016

Growth of antimony doped P-type zinc oxide nanowires for optoelectronics

In a method of growing p-type nanowires, a nanowire growth solution of zinc nitrate (Zn(NO.sub.3).sub.2), hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) and polyethylenemine (800 M.sub.w PEI) is prepared. A dopant solution to the growth solution, the dopant solution including an equal molar ration of sodium hydroxide (NaOH), glycolic acid (C.sub.2H.sub.4O.sub.3) and antimony acetate (Sb(CH.sub.3COO).sub.3) in water is prepared. The dopant solution and the growth solution combine to generate a resulting solution that includes antimony to zinc in a ratio of between 0.2% molar to 2.0% molar, the resulting solution having a top surface. An ammonia solution is added to the resulting solution. A ZnO seed layer is applied to a substrate and the substrate is placed into the top surface of the resulting solution with the ZnO seed layer facing downwardly for a predetermined time until Sb-doped ZnO nanowires having a length of at least 5 .mu.m have grown from the ZnO seed layer.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2017

Method and system to discover and recommend interesting documents

Disclosed are several examples of systems that can read millions of news feeds per day about topics (e.g., your customers, competitors, markets, and partners), and provide a small set of the most relevant items to read to keep current with the overwhelming amount of information currently available. Topics of interest can be chosen by the user of the system for use as seeds. The seeds can be vectorized and compared with the target documents to determine their similarity. The similarities can be sorted from highest to lowest so that the most similar seed and target documents are at the top of the list. This output can be produced in XML format so that an RSS Reader can format the XML. This allows for easy Internet access to these recommendations.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

DOE OSTI2018

Templated synthesis of metal nanorods in silica nanotubes

A method of preparing a metal nanorod. The method includes seeding a metal nanoparticle within the lumen of a nanotube, and growing a metal nanorod from the seeded metal nanoparticle to form a metal nanorod-nanotube composite. In some cases, the nanotube includes metal binding ligands attached to the inner surface. Growing of the metal nanorod includes incubating the seeded nanotube in a solution that includes: a metal source for the metal in the metal nanorod, the metal source including an ion of the metal; a coordinating ligand that forms a stable complex with the metal ion; a reducing agent for reducing the metal ion, and a capping agent that stabilizes atomic monomers of the metal. Compositions derived from the method are also provided.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2016

Results from Four Decades of Successional Prairie Restoration and an Update on Ecological Land Management at Fermilab in Batavia, Illinois

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) is a 2,573-ha (6,800-acre) Department of Energy site located in Batavia, Illinois, USA. Tucked among the particle accelerators are nearly 1,619 ha (4,000 ac) of natural areas including remnant and restored grasslands, woodlands, and wetlands. Dr. Robert F. Betz began his large-scale prairie restoration project on the Fermilab site in 1975. During the course of that work, he defined 4 successional stages of prairie restoration and listed species occurring in each of the stages. We present results after 40 y of successional prairie restoration and summarize current ecological land management efforts at Fermilab. Ninety-five percent of the 110 species making up his 4 stages of successional restoration established in at least 1 of the 25 Fermilab prairie plantings. Three-fourths of species in Stage 1 were observed in 80% of the plantings and 54% of Stage 2 species were found in at least half of the plantings. Many Stage 3 and almost all Stage 4 species did not frequently establish in the plantings, but this may be an artifact of seed availability. Species richness and floristic quality index (FQI) increased over time in most plantings as seeded and spontaneous species established. As of 2015, 268 native plant species were recorded in the 25 prairie plantings combined. Current ecological land management includes continuing to enrich all 25 prairie plantings by targeted overseeding. Fermilab staff are attempting to create spatial and structural heterogeneity in plantings dominated by big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) by experimenting with 2 hemiparasitic plants (wood betony [Pedicularis canadensis] and false toadflax [Comandra umbellata]) known to parasitize A. gerardii and thought to reduce its competitiveness. Fermilab staff have vastly improved invasive species control efforts and collection and spreading of native seeds in the prairie plantings thanks in part to the use of geographic information system technology. Volunteers help in the prairies as well as perform stewardship duties in remnant woodlands and oak savannas on site. Public outreach and partnership remains important aspects of the Fermilab prairie project. Wildlife monitoring and ecological research continue to provide information guiding adaptive land management at Fermilab.

Campbell, Ryan E.↗

DOE OSTI2016

Performance Baseline for Oxy-Coal MHD Power Plant with Carbon Capture

This presentation discusses the development of baseline Direct Power Extraction (DPE) plant designs incorporating oxy-coal combustion, a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) topping cycle, a steam bottoming cycle, and a carbon dioxide purification unit for carbon capture and storage (CCS). Two MHD configurations have been developed; one representing the current state-of-the-art in MHD channel design, and a more advanced design capable of higher power density. The MHD cycle incorporates potassium seeding for plasma generation and a potassium formate seed recovery process that also removes sulfur from the combustion products. The air separation unit for oxygen production, MHD system, and seed recovery systems are all thermally integrated with a Rankine bottoming cycle operating at advanced ultra-supercritical (AUSC) steam conditions. The modeled performance of the two DPE plant systems are compared to IGCC and oxy-coal AUSC reference plants with CCS.

Weiland, Nathan↗

DOE OSTI2020

Switchgrass cultivar PanIR

A novel herbicide-resistant switchgrass cultivar, designated PanIR, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of switchgrass cultivar PanIR, to the plants of switchgrass cultivar PanIR, and to methods for producing a switchgrass plant produced by crossing the cultivar PanIR with itself or another switchgrass variety. The invention relates to plant parts derived from switchgrass cultivar PanIR and to methods for producing other switchgrass cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from switchgrass cultivar PanIR. The invention further relates to hybrid switchgrass seeds and plants produced by crossing the switchgrass cultivar PanIR with another switchgrass cultivar. It also further relates to other derivatives of the cultivar PanIR, methods of producing imazapic resistant switchgrass seeds and plants, and to producing commodity plant products.

Baldwin, Brian S.↗

DOE OSTI2021

Plants with enhanced yield and methods of construction

Transgenic plants having enhanced yield and having enhanced seed yield are disclosed. The transgenic plants are transformed with a transgenic polynucleotide encoding one or more metabolic enzymes. The metabolic enzymes can be from any biological source. The transgenic polynucleotide(s) comprises a nucleic acid sequences encoding the metabolic enzymes under the control of functional plant promoters, the one or more metabolic enzymes are targeted to the plastids by the addition of plastid targeting signals. Optionally the functional plant promoters are seed specific promoters and the metabolic enzymes are targeted to the plastids by the addition of plastid targeting peptide heterologous to the metabolic enzymes. Methods of making the transgenic plants and transgenic polynucleotides are disclosed. The magnitude of the increases in seed yield achieved with these transgenic plants are simply unprecedented.

Malik, Meghna↗

DOE OSTI2021

Algal harvesting and water filtration

Systems for algae-based water filtration and algae harvesting are described herein. A flow-way comprises a channel and a divider positioned within the channel that separates the channel into sub-channels. The flow-way further includes an algal growth that grows on a sidewall of the channel and/or the divider. The algal growth can be established in the flow-way by positioning a pre-seeded mesh element within the channel, the pre-seeded mesh element having an algae culture growing thereon prior to positioning the pre-seeded mesh within the channel. A harvesting system comprises a hinged container that includes a straining screen. The hinged container is positioned downstream from a flow-way and receives water from the flow-way. Biomass in the water is strained by and accumulates on the screen. Weight of the accumulated biomass causes the hinged container to tip and deposit the accumulated biomass in a second container.

Davis, Ryan Wesley↗

DOE OSTI2021

Electrochemical Manipulation and Radiolytic Evaluation of Organic Phase Neptunium

Presentation for Seed LDRD proposal presentation: This Seed LDRD research proposes to test an innovative approach to precisely control the oxidation state distribution of neptunium (Np) under used nuclear fuel (UNF) reprocessing conditions using novel electrochemical methods. Current UNF reprocessing technologies are not financially viable in the US, requiring significant scientific and technological innovation to improve cost efficiency. Reducing the number of process cycles is one avenue for increasing cost efficiency, of which resolving the challenge associated with isolating Np is critical. Under envisioned process conditions, Np is present in a mixture of extractable (Np(IV) and Np(VI)) and inextractable (Np(V)) oxidation states, the distribution of which is dependent on several factors, including ionizing radiation dose, that change throughout a reprocessing scheme. Consequently, Np unintentionally partitions into various UNF reprocessing phases and product streams, ultimately increasing the number of process cycles to isolate UNF components. Here, we propose to employ novel, high surface area, optically transparent, Ligand Modified tin-doped indium oxide Electrodes (LMES). These LMEs bind Np, and therefore enable concurrent generation and spectroscopic characterization of Np oxidation states in organic solutions. These proof-of-concept experiments will: (i) facilitate optimization of the proposed electrochemical system conditions for Np oxidation state manipulation; (ii) identify the accessible electrochemical window for Np complexes in the organic phase; (iii) report characteristic optical spectra for each accessible complexed Np oxidation state; and (iv) determine the lifetime and partitioning of a given atypical Np oxidation state in the organic phase in the presence and absence of ionizing radiation fields. The data gathered by this Seed LDRD will provide support for the design of an electrochemical process concept for the precise manipulation of Np oxidation states in UNF reprocessing solvent systems, with the intention of providing advanced control over Np mass transfer, and thus greater process efficiency and economy.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

DOE OSTI2023

High resolution, high conductivity components by aerosol jet printing

Highly conductive electrical traces formed over mechanical steps or on non-planar surfaces with linewidths of 10 to 100 μm and a method for forming such electrical traces are disclosed. The method employs two steps, with the first step using an aerosol jet printing (AJP) process to form thin electrical traces that serve as the seed layers for the second step. The first step preferably employs multiple passes with the AJP to create multiple seed sub-layers with improved continuity and conductivity. In the second step, the seed layers are subjected to an electrodeposition process that forms the bulk of the thickness of the electrical traces. The electrodeposition process may include one, two, or three phases at corresponding low or high biases, with low biases providing denser, more highly conductive plating sub-layers, while high biases provide plating sub-layers having better gap bridging properties.

Lavin, Judith Maria↗

DOE OSTI2024

New U.S. Data Tools are Playing a Crucial Role in Decarbonizing Buildings at Speed, Scale, and Low Cost

Preparing buildings for retrofits traditionally requires expensive on-site audits or time- intensive simulation models. As a result, the majority of buildings fail to pursue cost-saving retrofits. To address these barriers, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has introduced the Building Efficiency Targeting Tool for Energy Retrofits (BETTER)—a new, free, on-line tool that utilizes a data-driven analytical engine and user-friendly web interface to automatically analyze a building’s monthly energy usage in response to weather conditions. The tool benchmarks a building’s electric and fossil energy usage against peers; estimates energy, cost, and emissions reductions at the building and portfolio levels; recommends energy efficiency measures; and prioritizes buildings for net-zero energy retrofits. Thanks to interoperability with the DOE’s Standard Energy Efficiency Data (SEED) platform, BETTER is supporting U.S. jurisdictions to prepare buildings for retrofit at speed, scale, and low cost to comply with energy policies. This paper discusses the use of BETTER and SEED by one of the branches of the California state government to streamline a retrofit program across 455 public non-residential buildings to align with state goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It describes the organization’s challenge to reduce energy consumption across a geographically diverse, aging portfolio; explores how BETTER and SEED improved workflow efficiency; presents preliminary results, including avoiding audit costs of $3.28 million and developing the groundwork for retrofit projects estimated to prevent emission of 2,271 t CO2e annually; and provides guidance for other jurisdictions seeking similar results.

Li, han↗

DOE OSTI2024

Plants with enhanced yield and methods of construction

Malik, Meghna↗

DOE OSTI2021

Templated Growth and Passivation of Vertically Oriented Antimony Selenide Thin Films for High-Efficiency Solar Cells in Substrate Configuration

Antimony selenide (Sb 2 Se 3 ) is a promising low-cost photovoltaic material with a 1D crystal structure. The grain orientation and defect passivation play a critical role in determining the performance of polycrystalline Sb 2 Se 3 thin-film solar cells. In this work, a seed layer is introduced on a molybdenum (Mo) substrate to template the growth of a vertically oriented, columnar Sb 2 Se 3 absorber layer by closed space sublimation. By controlling the grain orientation and compactness of the Sb 2 Se 3 seeds, obtain high-quality Sb 2 Se 3 absorber layers with passive Sb 2 Se 3 /Mo interfaces is obtained, which in turn improve the transport of photoexcited charge carriers through the absorber layer and its interfaces. Post-deposition annealing of absorber layers in ambient air is further utilized to passivate the defects in Sb 2 Se 3 and enhance the quality of the front heterojunction. As a result of systematic processing optimization, Sb 2 Se 3 planar heterojunction solar cells are fabricated in substrate configuration with a champion power conversion efficiency of 8.5%.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2016

Cloning and characterization of a novel Gladiolus hybridus AFP family gene (GhAFP-like) related to corm dormancy

Abscisic acid (ABA) is an important phytohormone controlling seed dormancy. AFPs (ABA INSENSITIVE FIVE BINDING PROTEINS) are reported to be negative regulators of the ABA signaling pathway. The involvement of AFPs in dormant vegetative organs remains poorly understood. Here, we isolated and characterized a novel AFP family member from Gladiolus dormant cormels, GhAFP-like, containing three conserved domains of the AFP family. Quantitative PCR analysis revealed that GhAFP-like was expressed in dormant organs and its expression was down-regulated along with corm storage. GhAFP-like was verified to be a nuclear-localized protein. Overexpressing GhAFP-like in Arabidopsis thaliana not only showed weaker seed dormancy with insensitivity to ABA, but also changed the expression of some ABA related genes. In addition, a primary root elongation assay showed GhAFP-like may involve in auxin signaling response. The results in this study indicate that GhAFP-like acts as a negative regulator in ABA signaling and is related to dormancy. - Highlights: • GhAFP-like is expessed in dormant corm. • Overexpressing GhAFP-like showed early germination and insensitivity to ABA. • Overexpressing GhAFP-like changed ABI5 downstream genes expression.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2025

Persistent fatty acid catabolism during plant oil synthesis

Plant lipids are an essential energy source for diets and are a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based fuels and feedstocks. Fatty acid breakdown during seed germination is crucial for seedling establishment but unexpected during seed filling. Here, we demonstrate that the simultaneous biosynthesis and degradation of fatty acids begins early and continues across all phases of oil filling and throughout the photoperiod. Tests in camelina, rapeseed, and an engineered high-oil tobacco line confirmed that concomitant synthesis and breakdown in oil-producing tissues over development is the rule rather than the exception. Furthermore, we show that transgenics, designed to elevate fatty acid biosynthesis, failed to achieve anticipated increases in storage lipid levels due to increased degradation, potentially explaining the underperformance of engineered lines compared to expectations more generally.

coenzyme A↗