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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 OSTI2020

Systematic Comparison of High-throughput Single-Cell and Single-Nucleus Transcriptomes during Cardiomyocyte Differentiation

A comprehensive reference map of all cell types in the human body is necessary for improving our understanding of fundamental biological processes and in diagnosing and treating disease. High-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing techniques have emerged as powerful tools to identify and characterize cell types in complex and heterogeneous tissues. However, extracting intact cells from tissues and organs is often technically challenging or impossible, for example in heart or brain tissue. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing provides an alternative way to obtain transcriptome profiles of such tissues. To systematically assess the differences between high-throughput single-cell and single-nuclei RNA-seq approaches, we compared Drop-seq and DroNc-seq, two microfluidic-based 3' RNA capture technologies that profile total cellular and nuclear RNA, respectively, during a time course experiment of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) differentiating into cardiomyocytes. Clustering of timeseries transcriptomes from Drop-seq and DroNc-seq revealed six distinct cell types, five of which were found in both techniques. Furthermore, single-cell trajectories reconstructed from both techniques reproduced expected differentiation dynamics. We then applied DroNc-seq to postmortem heart tissue to test its performance on heterogeneous human tissue samples. Our data confirm that DroNcseq yields similar results to Drop-seq on matched samples and can be successfully used to generate reference maps for the human cell atlas.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Advances in benchmarking and round robin testing for PEM water electrolysis: Reference protocol and hardware

While the number of publications in the PEM water electrolysis community increases each year, no common ground concerning reference hardware (test cells and test bench) and testing protocols has been yet established. This would, however, be necessary for the comparability of experimental results. First attempts for such reference hardware and procedures have been made in the framework of the Task 30 Electrolysis within the Technology Collaboration Programme on Advanced Fuel Cells (AFC TCP) of the International Energy Agency (IEA). Since then, improvements of both the test hardware (test cell and components) as well as the measurement protocol were identified, and a revised methodology and key results based on a comprehensive measurement series have been obtained. A detailed protocol for testing commercial reference components with a reference laboratory test cell developed in-house by Fraunhofer ISE is presented. For evaluation of the protocol and the hardware, it was tested at three different institutions at the same time. Impedance spectroscopic and polarization data was acquired and analyzed. The obtained differences in performance were calculated to give the community an expectation window to compare own data to. Finally, the importance of a thorough temperature control and the conditioning phase are demonstrated.

08 HYDROGEN↗
NASA NTRS2017

Solar Arrays for Low-Irradiance Low-Temperature and High-Radiation Environments

This is the Base Period final report DRAFT for the JPL task 'Solar Arrays for Low-Irradiance Low-Temperature and High-Radiation Environments', under Task Plan 77-16518 TA # 21, for NASA's Extreme Environments Solar Power (EESP) project. This report covers the Base period of performance, 7/18/2016 through 5/2/2017.The goal of this project is to develop an ultra-high efficiency lightweight scalable solar array technology for low irradiance, low temperature and high-radiation (LILT/Rad) environments. The benefit this technology will bring to flight systems is a greater than 20 reduction in solar array surface area, and a six-fold reduction in solar array mass and volume. The EESP project objectives are summarized in the 'NRA Goal' column of Table 1. Throughout this report, low irradiance low temperature (LILT) refers to 5AU -125 C test conditions; beginning of life (BOL) refers to the cell state prior to radiation exposure; and end of life (EOL) refers to the test article condition after exposure to a radiation dose of 4e15 1MeV e(-)/cm(exp 2).

Boca, Andreea↗
NASA NTRS2012

Method and Apparatus for In-Situ Health Monitoring of Solar Cells in Space

Some embodiments of the present invention describe an apparatus that includes an oscillator, a ramp generator, and an inverter. The apparatus includes an oscillator, an inverter, and a ramp generator. The oscillator is configured to generate a waveform comprising a low time and a high time. The inverter is configured to receive the waveform generated by the oscillator, and invert the waveform. The ramp generator configured to increase a gate control voltage of a transistor connected to a solar cell, and rapidly decrease the gate control voltage of the transistor. During the low time of the waveform, a measurement of a current and a voltage of the solar cell is performed as the current and voltage of the solar cell are transmitted through a first channel and to a second channel. During the high time of the waveform, a measurement of a current of a shorted cell and a voltage reference is performed as the current of the shorted cell and the voltage reference are transmitted through the first channel and the second channel.

Krasowski, Michael J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Results of the 1978 NASA/JPL balloon flight solar cell calibration program

The 1978 scheduled solar cell calibration balloon flight was successfully completed. Thirty six modules were carried to an altitude of above 36 kilometers. Recovery of telemetry and flight packages was without incident. These calibrated standard cells are used as reference standards in simulator testing of cells and arrays with similar spectral response characteristics. The factors affecting the spectral transmission of the atmosphere at various altitudes are summarized.

Seaman, C. H.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Gallium Arsenide solar cell radiation damage experiment

Gallium arsenide (GaAs) solar cells for space applications from three different manufactures were irradiated with 10 MeV protons or 1 MeV electrons. The electrical performance of the cells was measured at several fluence levels and compared. Silicon cells were included for reference and comparison. All the GaAs cell types performed similarly throughout the testing and showed a 36 to 56 percent power areal density advantage over the silicon cells. Thinner (8-mil versus 12-mil) GaAs cells provide a significant weight reduction. The use of germanium (Ge) substrates to improve mechanical integrity can be implemented with little impact on end of life performance in a radiation environment.

Maurer, R. H.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Multiport high-pressure synchrotron x-ray microscopy cell (CRADA Final Report)

The LBNL team developed a multiport cell allowing for fluid flow, with electrical contacts for sample bias, and with reference electrodes. The cell is currently installed and operating in beam-line 11.0.2 of the ALS, the Berkeley Synchrotron. The cell is closed by a membrane consisting of several stacked layers of graphene (1 to 3). The graphene membrane is supported on a 100 nm thick Si3N4 membrane covered with a 20 nm thin gold film for improved adhesion of the graphene and to ensure electrical conductivity. The Si3N4 film is perforated with a periodic array of holes 1 to 2 micrometers diameter. The cell can withhold an internal pressure (gas or liquid) of up to 10 atmospheres for in situ/operando studies using X-ray Photoelectron emission (XPS), and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS). It is also ideal for tip-enhanced nano-Infrared Spectroscopy studies of molecules at the interface between the graphene and the liquid or gas filling the cell. Materials studied in the LBNL laboratory are in the form of nanoparticles, or thin films (few nm) deposited on the side of the graphene membrane facing the solution or gas inside the cell.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Differential localization patterns of pyruvate kinase isoforms in murine naïve, formative, and primed pluripotent states

Highlights: • PKM1/2 protein abundance is greater in formative mEpiLCs compared to naïve mESCs or primed mEpiSCs. The ratio of PKM1/2 is maintained. • PKM1/2 are localized in both nuclear and cytoplasmic regions relative to GAPDH and OCT4 across the pluripotent continuum. • PKM1 localization is strongly correlated to OCT4 localization, and moderately to GAPDH in formative mEpiLCs. • PKM1/2 localization is moderately correlated to OCT4 and GAPDH localization in naïve mESCs. • PKM1/2 localization are moderately correlated to GAPDH localization in primed mEpiSCs. Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and mouse epiblast stem cells (mEpiSCs) represent opposite ends of the pluripotency continuum, referred to as naïve and primed pluripotent states, respectively. These divergent pluripotent states differ in several ways, including growth factor requirements, transcription factor expression, DNA methylation patterns, and metabolic profiles. Naïve cells employ both glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), whereas primed cells preferentially utilize aerobic glycolysis, a trait shared with cancer cells referred to as the Warburg Effect. Until recently, metabolism has been regarded as a by-product of cell fate, however, evidence now supports metabolism as being a driver of stem cell state and fate decisions. Pyruvate kinase muscle isoforms (PKM1 and PKM2) are important for generating and maintaining pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) and mediating the Warburg Effect. Both isoforms catalyze the final, rate limiting step of glycolysis, generating adenosine triphosphate and pyruvate, however, the precise role(s) of PKM1/2 in naïve and primed pluripotency is not well understood. The primary objective of this study was to characterize the cellular expression and localization patterns of PKM1 and PKM2 in mESCs, chemically transitioned epiblast-like cells (mEpiLCs) representing formative pluripotency, and mEpiSCs using immunoblotting and confocal microscopy. The results indicate that PKM1 and PKM2 are not only localized to the cytoplasm, but also accumulate in differential subnuclear regions of mESC, mEpiLCs, and mEpiSCs as determined by a quantitative confocal microscopy employing orthogonal projections and airyscan processing. Importantly, we discovered that the subnuclear localization of PKM1/2 changes during the transition from mESCs, mEpiLCs, and mEpiSCs. Finally, we have comprehensively validated the appropriateness and power of the Pearson's correlation coefficient and Manders's overlap coefficient for assessing nuclear and cytoplasmic protein colocalization in PSCs by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. We propose that nuclear PKM1/2 may assist with distinct pluripotency state maintenance and lineage priming by non-canonical mechanisms. These results advance our understanding of the overall mechanisms controlling naïve, formative, and primed pluripotency.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1986

Flat-plate solar array project. Volume 3: Silicon sheet: Wafers and ribbons

The primary objective of the Silicon Sheet Task of the Flat-Plate Solar Array (FSA) Project was the development of one or more low cost technologies for producing silicon sheet suitable for processing into cost-competitive solar cells. Silicon sheet refers to high purity crystalline silicon of size and thickness for fabrication into solar cells. Areas covered in the project were ingot growth and casting, wafering, ribbon growth, and other sheet technologies. The task made and fostered significant improvements in silicon sheet including processing of both ingot and ribbon technologies. An additional important outcome was the vastly improved understanding of the characteristics associated with high quality sheet, and the control of the parameters required for higher efficiency solar cells. Although significant sheet cost reductions were made, the technology advancements required to meet the task cost goals were not achieved.

Briglio, A.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Quantifying Uncertainties in Heat Capacity Measurements of Molten Salts Determined Using Differential Scanning Calorimetry

Uncertainty in specific heat capacity values of a molten salt determined by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was assessed based on the precision of replicate measurements of heat flows used in the calculation and effects of corrections that are commonly made to heat flow measurements. The ratio method of determining heat capacity was applied using the results of replicate heat flow measurements made with two empty cells, a sapphire reference material, and three samples of a doped NaCl-UCl 3 salt mixture. Replicate measurements with empty cells were used to quantify the effects of system instabilities and sensitivities on the measured heat flows of sapphire and salt. The combined effects of uncertainties in individual heat flow measurements made with blank cells using this system were quantified to be 2.6 μV based on isothermal holds before and after the scan, with cell placement adding the greatest uncertainty. This value was used as the tolerance for accepting background-corrected heat flows measured with sapphire and salt to calculate the specific heat capacity. The acceptable heat flows measured for sapphire and salt over the temperature range of 540 to 725 °C resulted in calculated specific heat capacity values ranging from 0.53 to 0.91 J g −1 K −1 with an overall average value of 0.70 J g −1 K −1 and an uncertainty of 0.22 J g −1 K −1 at the 99 % confidence level. The combined uncertainty in the specific heat capacity masked detection of any effect of temperature or salt composition that occurred.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Fabrication processes for effectively transparent contacts

In conventional solar cells with metal contacts, a non-negligible fraction of the incoming solar power is immediately lost either through absorption or reflection upon interaction with the contacts. Effectively transparent contacts (“ETCs”) for solar cells can be referred to as three-dimensional contacts designed to redirect incoming light onto a photoabsorbing surface of a solar cell. In many embodiments, the ETCs have triangular cross-sections. Such ETCs can be placed on a photoabsorbing surface such that at least one of their sides forms an angle with the photoabsorbing surface. In this configuration, the ETCs can redirect incident light onto the photoabsorbing surface, mitigating or eliminating reflection loss compared to conventional solar cells. When constructed in accordance with a number of embodiments of the invention, ETCs can be effectively transparent and highly conductive.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Custom-trained Machine-learning Interatomic Potentials: ZnCl2 Aqueous Solution

This dataset was generated using an iterative active-learning strategy implemented in the ArcaNN software package (https://github.com/arcann-chem/arcann_training) to train machine-learning interatomic potentials for aqueous ZnCl2 solutions. Each active-learning cycle consisted of three stages: training, exploration, and labeling. The initial training set combined configurations generated in this work from enhanced-sampling ab initio molecular dynamics simulations with configurations from a previously reported neural-network-potential study of aqueous ZnCl2. The enhanced-sampling ab initio molecular dynamics simulations involved Zn–Cl separation and the chloride coordination number around Zn²? as collective variables. These configurations served as the seed dataset. Subsequent active-learning cycles expanded the training set by identifying and labeling configurations that were poorly represented by the current models, thereby improving coverage of ion-association states and changes in local coordination and charge-state environments relevant to the solution free-energy landscape. For all selected configurations, single-point calculations of the total energies and atomic forces were performed within density functional theory using the CP2K Quickstep module. Reference calculations employed the revPBE-D3 and r2SCAN exchange-correlation functionals. Motivated by recent work on aqueous Zn²?, the main revPBE calculations omitted D3 dispersion contributions involving Zn²?, while retaining the D3 correction for water and chloride. For comparison, fully dispersion-corrected revPBE-D3 reference calculations were also performed, with D3 applied to all species, including Zn²?. Valence electrons were treated explicitly, while core electrons were represented using norm-conserving Goedecker–Teter–Hutter pseudopotentials. The wave functions were expanded using the mixed Gaussian-and-plane-wave scheme with TZV2P-MOLOPT basis sets for all elements and a 600 Ry auxiliary plane-wave cutoff for the electron density. Self-consistent-field convergence was accelerated using the orbital-transformation and Direct Inversion in the Iterative Subspace algorithms, with a convergence threshold of 10?6. All single-point calculations were performed in periodic orthorhombic cells. The CELL_REF keyword in CP2K was used to define a fixed reference cell with a box length of 25 Å. This treatment ensured a consistent reference for configurations extracted from NpT trajectories with fluctuating cell dimensions. The resulting DFT energies and atomic forces constitute the ground-truth labels used to train the MLIPs. The resulting MLIP was trained for aqueous ZnCl2 solutions spanning concentrations from 0 to 30 molal and a broad pH range, from strongly acidic to strongly basic conditions. Representative examples of configurations included in the MLIP training dataset are provided below. These include 1) Representative configurations from the dataset labeled at the revPBE-D3 level, with D3 dispersion interactions involving Zn2+ excluded (revPBE-wo-D3). 2) Representative configurations from the dataset labeled at the fully dispersion-corrected revPBE-D3 level, with D3 interactions applied to all species, including Zn2+ (revPBE-D3). 3) Representative configurations from the dataset labeled at the r2SCAN level of theory (r2SCAN).

Dinpajooh, Mohammadhasan [Pacific Northwest Nation↗
DOE OSTI2022

Examining Effects of Negative to Positive Capacity Ratio in Three-Electrode Lithium-Ion Cells with Layered Oxide Cathode and Si Anode

The negative to positive electrode capacity ratio (N:P) is crucial for lithium-ion cell design because it affects both energy density and long-term performance. Here, the effect of N:P ratio on electrochemical performance has been investigated for NMC 532 /Si cells containing a reference electrode. By monitoring individual electrode potentials, depths of lithiation/delithiation at the anode and cathode could be determined. The superior performance of the higher N:P cell, including greater reversibility, better capacity retention and lower impedance rise, can be attributed to smaller volume changes in the silicon particles during electrochemical cycling.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Apparent Increasing Lithium Diffusion Coefficient with Applied Current in Graphite

In this study, we assert that the apparent lithium diffusion coefficient in graphite active particles in the negative electrodes of lithium-ion cells increases appreciably with the intercalation rate. This assertion is based on an electrochemical model analysis of a wide range of electrochemical micro-reference electrode full cell studies on a coated natural graphite and other literature results. Although the mechanism for this increase is a subject of further investigation, the results of our study suggest that the lithium transport in the graphite does not limit the maximum attainable charging rate in typical lithium-ion cells for electric vehicles.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
NASA NTRS1978

Correlations of catalytic combustor performance parameters

Correlations for combustion efficiency percentage drop and the minimum required adiabatic reaction temperature necessary to meet emissions goals of 13.6 g CO/kg fuel and 1.64 g HC/kg fuel are presented. Combustion efficiency was found to be a function of the cell density, cell circumference, reactor length, reference velocity, and adiabatic reaction temperature. The percentage pressure drop at an adiabatic reaction temperature of 1450 K was found to be proportional to the reference velocity to the 1.5 power and to the reactor length. It is inversely proportional to the pressure, cell hydraulic diameter, and fractional open area. The minimum required adiabatic reaction temperature was found to increase with reference velocity and decrease with cell circumference, cell density and reactor length. A catalyst factor was introduced into the correlations to account for differences between catalysts. Combustion efficiency, the percentage pressure drop, and the minimum required adiabatic reaction temperature were found to be a function of the catalyst factor. The data was from a 12 cm-diameter test rig with noble metal reactors using propane fuel at an inlet temperature of 800 K.

Bulzan, D. L.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Thermal Runaway of Nonflammable Localized High‐Concentration Electrolytes for Practical LiNi 0.8 Mn 0.1 Co 0.1 O 2 |Graphite‐SiO Pouch Cells

Abstract With continuous improvement of batteries in energy density, enhancing their safety is becoming increasingly urgent. Herein, practical high energy density LiNi 0.8 Mn 0.1 Co 0.1 O 2 |graphite‐SiO pouch cell with nonflammable localized high concentration electrolyte (LHCE) is proposed that presents unique self‐discharge characteristic before thermal runaway (TR), thus effectively reducing safety hazards. Compared with the reference electrolyte, pouch cell with nonflammable LHCE can increase self‐generated heat temperature by 4.4 °C, increase TR triggering temperature by 47.3 °C, decrease the TR highest temperature by 71.8 °C, and extend the time from self‐generated heat to triggering TR by ≈8 h. In addition, the cell with nonflammable LHCE presents superior high voltage cycle stability, attributed to the formation of robust inorganic‐rich electrode–electrolyte interphase. The strategy represents a pivotal step forward for practical high energy and high safety batteries.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1981

Results of the 1980 NASA/JPL balloon flight solar cell calibration program

Thirty-eight modules were carried to an altitude of about 36 kilometers. In addition to the cell calibration program, an experiment to evaluate the calibration error versus altitude was performed. The calibrated cells can be used as reference standards in simulator testing of cells and arrays.

Seaman, C. H.↗