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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 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

The Surface Chemistry of Methanol on Pd(111) and H–Pd(111) Surfaces: C–O Bond Cleavage and the Effects of Metal Hydride Formation

Palladium catalysts are frequently employed in processes where methanol is an energy vector or carrier, being useful for the synthesis of methanol from mixtures of carbon dioxide and hydrogen (CO 2 /H 2 ) or its steam reforming on demand. Results of synchrotron-based ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for the adsorption of methanol on a Pd(111) model catalyst show a rich surface chemistry and complex phenomena that strongly depend on pressure and temperature. At low pressures (< 10 -6 Torr) and temperatures (< 300 K), CO is the dominant decomposition product. Further, as the pressure increases, cleavage of C-H, O-H and C-O bonds is observed, and at elevated temperatures (400-600 K) the formation of CO and CH x /C fragments compete on the surface. Thus, existing reaction networks for methanol decomposition must be modified. Furthermore, surface and subsurface hydrogen (coming from PdH x ) play a significant role in the stability and removal of CH x and C species.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

CO 2 Hydrogenation on Pd(111): The Role of Subsurface Hydrogen and Surface Defects

Palladium-based catalysts are often used in carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) hydrogenation reactions with different possible reaction pathways producing methanol, methane, formic acid, or carbon monoxide. We used ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-XPS) to understand the surface reaction mechanism of CO 2 hydrogenation on Pd(111). AP-XPS results show that the order in which the reactants are introduced yields different initial surface species. In a CO 2 and H 2 mixture, carbonaceous species (CH x , C*, PdC x ) are formed upon heating Pd(111) at 400 K and above. In addition, a Pd(111) sample pre-exposed to an elevated pressure of H 2 followed by evacuation to ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) can store enough hydrogen atoms in the subsurface and bulk to provide a hydrogen source for the CO 2 hydrogenation reaction to occur when exposed to CO 2 gas alone. In conclusion, the formation of carbonaceous species likely occurs through the decomposition of a transient CH x O intermediate facilitated by low-coordinated sites and surface defects.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Mechanistic Studies of Ligand Substitution, Linkage Isomerism, and Insertion Reactions in Electron Rich Pd(II) Complexes of a Zwitterionic Diimine Ligand

We have prepared cationic palladium complexes possessing a new zwitterionic ligand bis-N,N’–1-(2,4,6-triphenylpyridyl) oxalamide [(N ^ N)Pd(Me)(L)] + [BArF] - , (BArF=3,5-(CF 3 ) 2 C 6 H 3 , L=NCMe, CO). The structure of [(N ^ N)Pd(Me)(CO)] + [BArF] - was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Energy Decomposition Analysis (EDA) indi-cates this N ^ N zwitterionic ligand is more electron-donating relative to bidentate diimine ligands. Low temperature NMR analysis shows the existence of linkage isomers with the N ^ N isomer the most stable. Structures were assigned using NMR and DFT analysis. Barriers to interconversion of isomers are ΔG ‡ = 10-12 kcal/mol. Kinetics of acetoni-trile displacement from [(N ^ N)Pd(Me)(NCCH 3 )] + [BArF] - by CD 3 CN, ethylene and t Bu 3 P were measured and mechanisms of exchange determined. The ethylene complex, [(N ^ N)Pd(Me)(C 2 H 4 )] + was generated at -45 °C, and the barrier of migrato-ry insertion determined at 0 °C (ΔG ‡ = 23.4 kcal/mol) and compared to related diimine complexes. The methyl carbonyl complex undergoes migratory insertion in the presence of CO at -70 to -55 °C (ΔG ‡ = ca. 15.7 kcal/mol) to yield the acyl carbonyl complex. Furthermore, the neutral bis-trimethylsilylmethyl complex [(N ^ N)Pd(CH 2 SiMe 3 ) 2 was prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. It displays dynamic behavior at very low temperatures in the NMR spectrum (-90 °C, ΔG ‡ =7.9 kcal/mol) which, supported by DFT analysis, is ascribed to rotation of the bulky -CH 2 SiMe 3 groups.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Integrating Metal-Hydride and Gas-Detector for Tritium Gas Detection

Detection of trace amounts of environmental tritium is a challenging problem, driving the need for field-deployable systems that offer high sensitivity, selectivity, and minimal false positives. We present a technique for high-sensitivity, high-selectivity tritium measurement, which integrates metal-hydride and gas-detector concepts into a compact field-deployable tritium sensor. A hydrogen-storage metal embedded in a gas proportional counter selectively absorbs protium (1H)/tritium (3H), which are subsequently released into the counter volume with a reduced radiation background. Ionizations induced by 3H beta particles are then measured in proportional counting mode, achieving high detection efficiency. Preliminary studies conducted with palladium (Pd) thin films coated on stainless-steel substrates demonstrated 3H absorption and metal-tritide formation, followed by 3H desorption upon heating the metal-tritide. These processes were confirmed using activity concentrations measured by a commercial tritium monitor and pulse height spectra acquired from a custom-built detector.

Gas-proportional counter↗
NASA NTRS2012

NASA Glenn Research Center Experience with LENR Phenomenon

Since 1989 NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) has performed some small-scale limited experiments that show evidence of effects claimed by some to be evidence of Low Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENR). The research at GRC has involved observations and work on measurement techniques for observing the temperature effects in reactions of isotopes of hydrogen with palladium hydrides. The various experiments performed involved loading Pd with gaseous H2 and D2, and exposing Pd thin films to multi-bubble sonoluminescence in regular and deuterated water. An overview of these experiments and their results will be presented.

hydrogen↗
DOE OSTI2024

Facile Tensile Testing Platform for In Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy of Nanomaterials

In situ tensile testing using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is a powerful technique to probe structure-property relationships of materials at the atomic scale. In this work, a facile tensile testing platform for in situ characterization of materials inside a transmission electron microscope is demonstrated. The platform consists of: 1) a commercially available, flexible, electron-transparent substrate (e.g., TEM grid) integrated with a conventional tensile testing holder, and 2) a finite element simulation providing quantification of specimen-applied strain. The flexible substrate (carbon support film of the TEM grid) mitigates strain concentrations usually found in free-standing films and enables in situ straining experiments to be performed on materials that cannot undergo localized thinning or focused ion beam lift-out. The finite element simulation enables direct correlation of holder displacement with sample strain, providing upper and lower bounds of expected strain across the substrate. The tensile testing platform is validated for three disparate material systems: sputtered gold-palladium, few-layer transferred tungsten disulfide, and electrodeposited lithium, by measuring lattice strain from experimentally recorded electron diffraction data. The results show good agreement between experiment and simulation, providing confidence in the ability to transfer strain from holder to sample and relate TEM crystal structural observations with material mechanical properties.

2D materials↗
DOE OSTI2025

Hybrid Plasmonic Coupled‐Mode Metasurface Design for Shot‐Noise Limited Ppb‐Level Hydrogen Detection

Plasmonic hydrogen sensors have enabled hydrogen detection below parts-per-million (ppm) range by boosting the sensitivity using localized surface plasmonic resonant (LSPR) structures. However, the intrinsic optical losses of Palladium (Pd), the primary plasmonic metal used for hydrogen detection, result in a low quality (Q) factor LSPR, which fundamentally hinders further improvement. In this work, a hybrid plasmonic metasurface is proposed that couples Pd-based LSPR structure with an Au film supporting surface plasmon polariton mode (Au-SPP). The coupled near-perfect absorber resonance yields a spectrally narrow, high Q response that retains strong sensitivity to hydrogen while improving resonance localization. Numerical analysis shows that, under shot-noise-limited conditions, the limit of detection (LoD) can be improved by over threefold compared to the state-of-the-art designs. Furthermore, this hybrid plasmonic coupled-mode metasurface thus presents a promising pathway to achieve parts-per-billion-level (ppb-level) hydrogen detection with enhanced spectral precision and robustness.

coupled modes↗
DOE OSTI2025

Crossing the Oxo‐Peroxo Wall for Selective Electrochemical Epoxidation

Electrochemical oxidation in water requires the formation of reactive oxygen species to be able to oxidize unsaturated hydrocarbons to epoxides, aldehydes, and ketones. These reactions, broadly classified as alternative oxidation reactions (AOR), directly compete with the prevalent oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In molecular catalysis, the Oxo-Wall dictates a transition from a stable oxo intermediate (OER active) to a meta-stable metal-oxo (OER inactive) generally occurs. In this work on heterogeneous catalysis, the same Oxo-Wall applies, however, a meta-stable oxo preferentially coordinates with lattice oxygen to form a more stable surface peroxo intermediate. A universal free energy onset of this process is identified at 3.39 eV under electrochemical activation in water and show that it is completely decoupled from the OER oxo species. Such decoupling gives rise to a new region of oxygen reactivity relevant for AOR where a selective oxidation of the unsaturated C-C bonds is predicted to occur instead of OER. A distinct AOR overpotential volcano is constructed and identify recently reported electrocatalysts, including palladium-platinum for propylene epoxidation and silver-nickel for ethylene epoxidation, along with others such as TiO 2 and CuO. Broader implications and limitations of electrochemical AOR are discussed, highlighting their potential to enable electrochemically enhanced thermal catalysis.

Electrocatalysis↗
DOE OSTI2025

Nucleation rate controlled grain boundary and lattice creep

Nucleation versus diffusion rate-limited bicrystal and single crystal creep exhibit different scaling dependencies that enable the mechanisms to be isolated when measured as a function of sample size. It has recently been suggested that nucleation rate-limited kinetic models generally describe the non-Newtonian portion of the creep response well, but more direct evidence is required. This work analyzes the grain boundary creep response of UO 2 , a pyrochlore high entropy oxide, silver, and palladium, along with the lattice creep of silver using small-scale in situ loading in the transmission electron microscope. At small sizes, each system exhibits scale dependence associated with nucleation rate-limited kinetics. Fits of the data produce activation volumes on the order of a few Burgers vectors cubed with positive temperature coefficients as expected for nucleation kinetics. The activation enthalpies fall in the range of about 0.4 eV to 1.7 eV, being lower for the metals and higher for the oxides.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Bayesian discovery of optimal reduced order models from mechanistic and experimental data: A case study of Pd penetration in TRISO fuels using BISON

TRistructural ISOtropic (TRISO) particles rely on a silicon carbide (SiC) layer as the primary structural material and barrier to metallic fission products (FPs) release. Accurate prediction of palladium (Pd) transport and penetration is therefore critical for qualifying TRISO fuels for advanced reactors. The empirical correlation for Pd penetration in BISON is derived from historical particle-fuel data, but cannot explain the large scatter in the experimental data that arises from varying experimental conditions. To aid fuel qualification, we previously developed a mechanistic reduced order model (ROM) using BISON that resolves these dependencies. Here, in this work we build on that mechanistic ROM and perform validation and quantify its uncertainty using Bayesian uncertainty quantification (UQ). calibration against a suite of in-pile and out-of-pile experiments spanning particle compositions, geometries, and operating conditions, and we benchmark it against the empirical correlation. Bayesian UQ identifies influential parameters, calibrates them to data, and yields predictive intervals. Results show that while the empirical correlation can be tuned to fit a single experiment type, it transfers poorly; the mechanistic ROM sustains accuracy with credible uncertainty across disparate conditions. This demonstrates a practical path—via Bayesian UQ applied to mechanistic ROMs—to leverage single-effect experiments for inferring in-reactor behavior and supporting TRISO fuel qualification.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2025

An investigation of the physical and chemical changes of Pd nanoparticles on carbon supports in response to the release of hydrogen from aqueous formate solutions

Palladium nanoparticles on carbon supports (Pd/C) are effective for catalyzing hydrogen release from aqueous formate solutions but typically suffer from a gradual decrease of activity. This study finds two primary factors influencing activity: (i) the number of available surface Pd sites, and (ii) metal-support interactions which depend on the nature of the C support. We propose that the Pd/C catalyst is structure insensitive and undergoes Ostwald ripening to yield an active ‘conditioned’ catalyst with dispersion plateauing between ca. 15–20 %. Contrary to earlier studies, in-situ XANES experiments show that PdO is not an active catalyst for formate dehydrogenation. Calcination of Pd/C before dehydrogenation increases the catalytic activity which suggests a beneficial, albeit temporary, modification of the metal support interaction. N-containing supports minimize nanoparticle growth and also increase activity through a metal-support interaction. In conclusion, these findings advance our understanding of catalyst evolution and stability in formate dehydrogenation systems.

Formate dehydrogenation↗
DOE OSTI2026

A mechanistic, multiscale model for predicting Pd penetration in TRISO fuels using BISON

TRistructural ISOtropic (TRISO) particles use silicon carbide (SiC) as the primary structural member and barrier against metallic fission product (FP) release. palladiums (PDs), produced by fission in the fuel kernel, can diffuse to and chemically interact with the SiC layer, degrading its structural integrity and ability to contain radioactive FPs. Existing temperature-dependent correlations for predicting Pd penetration rely on experimental data with significant scatter due to varying conditions, potentially complicating ongoing fuel qualification and licensing efforts for advanced reactors that would subject TRISO fuels to operating conditions outside of those examined in the experiments. A mechanistic model of Pd production, transport, and reaction is developed in this work to better understand and predict PD attack of SiC in TRISO particles. molecular dynamicss (MDs) simulations are utilized to calculate the Pd diffusivity in SiC grain bulk and grain boundaries. A mesoscale phase-field diffusion model, informed by the MD diffusivities, is used to develop a reduced order model (ROM) for the effect of SiC microstructure on the Pd penetration rate. The engineering scale BISON model calculates Pd production and transport, utilizing the ROM to predict penetration rates consistent with experimental data. This novel mechanistic ROM captures the effect of temperature, microstructure, and irradiation history on Pd penetration. In conclusion, these new capabilities are expected to support ongoing qualification and licensing efforts associated with near-term TRISO-fueled reactor applications.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Mitigating humidity interference in chemiresistive hydrogen sensors through hydrophobic surface functionalization

Chemiresistive gas sensors based on semiconductor metal oxides, such as tin dioxide (SnO₂), are indispensable for detecting and monitoring toxic gases and pollutants, making them critical components in industrial and environmental applications. To enhance their performance, the metal oxides are loaded with noble metals such as palladium (Pd). However, ambient humidity poses a significant challenge to their performance. The presence of adsorbed water molecules on the oxide surface can considerably impair sensor sensitivity and overall performance. To address this issue, in this paper, we report on the application of an ultrathin, hydrophobic layer of hexamethyldisilazane to the surface of a Pd/SnO 2 sensor. This study investigates the influence of hydrophobic surface modifications on the metal oxide interface, focusing on their impact on sensor sensitivity and selectivity. The resulting sensor exhibits superior hydrogen sensing capabilities, operating effectively at low temperatures even in high humidity environments. Furthermore, the hydrophobic modification reduces the sensor’s susceptibility to interfering gases, thus enhancing its selectivity. The combined enhancements in moisture resistance and selectivity achieved through HMDS surface modification, along with the superior sensitivity of Pd/SnO₂ sensors, facilitate the development of gas sensors with enhanced humidity tolerance and broader applications.

Chemiresistive gas sensors↗
DOE OSTI2025

Late Metal Sandwich Catalysts for Olefin Polymerization

Polyolefins are by far the most ubiquitous industrially produced polymers and are primarily produced by early transition metal catalysts. These catalysts are not functional group tolerant, and copolymerization of ethylene and polar vinyl monomers is quite challenging. Furthermore, early metal catalysts convert ethylene to linear polyethylene, and introduction of branches requires addition of comonomers. In this Account, we describe our efforts in designing and implementing new Pd(II) and Ni(II) olefin polymerization catalysts based on mechanistic understanding of the chain growth process. Here, the original hindered nickel- and palladium-aryl-substituted diimine complexes were discovered in 1995. The key to the success of these now “classic” systems in generating high polymers rather than dimers or oligomers was realizing that incorporation of ortho-disubstituted aryl groups partially blocks the axial sites of the metal and thus retards the rate of chain transfer relative to propagation. Two key features of these late metal catalysts distinguish them from early metal complexes. First, they tolerate certain functional groups, which allows copolymerization of olefins with polar comonomers. Second, they can form a branched polymer from ethylene without the need to add α-olefin comonomers. Importantly, for nickel catalysts, branching levels can be modulated by changing reaction conditions, such as temperature and monomer pressure.

Catalysts↗
DOE OSTI2025

Integrated Systems-to-Atoms (S2A) Framework for Designing Resilient and Efficient Hydrogen Infrastructure Solutions

The success of a future clean hydrogen infrastructure will depend on technology performance, operating conditions, and system configuration, which will be integrated to meet specific end-use requirements. We introduce a Systems-to-Atoms framework to cosimulate material, device, and system design for clean hydrogen storage and transport. Here we present a demonstration scenario in which hydrogen is distributed using a liquid organic hydrogen carrier to 700 bar refueling stations. Cross-scale analysis on hydrogen release at the refueling station reveals that while a high reaction pressure (up to 100 bar) may not enhance the catalyst performance, it can lead to system-level cost savings (up to 5% of total refueling station cost) due to savings in downstream gas compression. Further, a typically low-performing dehydrogenation catalyst material (e.g., copper) may be preferred over a high-performing catalyst (e.g., palladium) at different operating conditions when considering overall system affordability and supply chain resilience.

08 HYDROGEN↗