Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “ENCAPSULATION”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,621 records · Page 90
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Armor for Steel: Facile Synthesis of Hexagonal Boron Nitride Films on Various Substrates

Abstract While hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) has been widely used as a buffer or encapsulation layer for emerging electronic devices, interest in utilizing it for large‐area chemical barrier coating has somewhat faded. A chemical vapor deposition process is reported here for the conformal growth of hBN on large surfaces of various alloys and steels, regardless of their complex shapes. In contrast to the previously reported very limited protection by hBN against corrosion and oxidation, protection of steels against 10% HCl and oxidation resistance at 850 °C in air is demonstrated. Furthermore, an order of magnitude reduction in the friction coefficient of the hBN coated steels is shown. The growth mechanism is revealed in experiments on thin metal films, where the tunable growth of single‐crystal hBN with a selected number of layers is demonstrated. The key distinction of the process is the use of N 2 gas, which gets activated exclusively on the catalyst's surface and eliminates adverse gas‐phase reactions. This rate‐limiting step allowed independent control of activated nitrogen along with boron coming from a solid source (like elemental boron). Using abundant and benign precursors, this approach can be readily adopted for large‐scale hBN synthesis in applications where cost, production volume, and process safety are essential.

2D materials↗
DOE OSTI2021

3D Printing of Transparent Silicone Elastomers

Here in this paper, inks for transparent elastomers that are formulated by matching the refractive index of silica and polysiloxanes are described. The transparent inks transmit up to ≈90% of 700 nm light through 1 cm and remain transparent when solidified. The inks and solidified materials exhibit a thermochromic effect. This thermochromic effect can be controlled by the refractive index mismatch. Transparency may increase or decrease as temperature increases, depending on the refractive index mismatch of the base polysiloxane and silica. It is found that the rheological properties of the ink depend on the distribution of silica particles, which is dictated by silica functionality, weight content, and processing. Siloxane precursors that vary in chemical functionality are introduced to tailor the mechanical properties of the printed elastomers, which obtain stretchability >65% along with a tensile modulus of 1.9 MPa. After optimizing siloxane chemistry and ink processing, the authors are able to print transparent elastomers. Potential applications are demonstrated for printed structures by printing encapsulation structures for light-emitting diodes, semitransparent dye-filled structures, a microfluidic mixing device, and a multimaterial structure that exhibits temperature-dependent camouflage.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Measuring the Exciton Binding Energy: Learning from a Decade of Measurements on Halide Perovskites and Transition Metal Dichalcogenides

The exciton binding energy ( E b ) is a key parameter that governs the physics of many optoelectronic devices. At their best, trustworthy and precise measurements of E b challenge theoreticians to refine models, are a driving force in advancing the understanding of a material system, and lead to efficient device design. At their worst, inaccurate E b measurements lead theoreticians astray, sow confusion within the research community, and hinder device improvements by leading to poor designs. Here, this review article seeks to highlight the pros and cons of different measurement techniques used to determine E b , namely, temperature‐dependent photoluminescence, resolving Rydberg states, electroabsorption, magnetoabsorption, scanning tunneling spectroscopy, and fitting the optical absorption. Due to numerous conflicting E b values reported for halide perovskites (HP) and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDC) monolayers, an emphasis is placed on highlighting these measurements in an attempt to reconcile the variance between different measurement techniques. It is argued that the experiments with the clearest indicators are in agreement on the following values: ≈350–450 meV for TMDC monolayers between SiO 2 and vacuum, ≈150–200 meV for hBN‐encapsulated TMDC monolayers, ≈200–300 meV for common lead‐iodide 2D HPs, and ≈10 meV for methylammonium lead iodide.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Review on Perovskite Solar Cells: From Single‐Junction Devices to Tandem Deployment in Space

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a transformative photovoltaic technology, offering high power conversion efficiency (PCE) and the potential for cost-effective manufacturing. However, stability and large-scale manufacturing remain critical challenges that must be addressed for widespread adoption. This review provides a roadmap from single-junction perovskite solar cells to tandem deployment in space. First, material-level innovations are discussed, including mixed-cation and low-dimensional perovskites, transport materials, and additives that improve thermal and structural stability while enhancing efficiency. Then, we examine both established industrial standards and emerging scientific protocols aimed at stabilizing PSCs under operational conditions, including tandem cell integration strategies and encapsulation techniques to mitigate performance degradation. Manufacturing scalability is a focal point, where deposition methods and green solvents are explored to improve large-area film uniformity and reduce environmental impact. Additionally, the increasing viability of PSCs in extraterrestrial environments is assessed, with emphasis on their performance in space applications, radiation resistance, and flexible lamination methods for deployment in extreme conditions. Progress across materials innovation, device architectures, stability testing protocols, and both terrestrial and extraterrestrial applications collectively drives perovskite photovoltaics toward higher efficiency, stability, and cost-effectiveness.

flexible PSCs↗
DOE OSTI2015

Type I clathrates as novel silicon anodes: An electrochemical and structural investigation

In this study, silicon clathrates contain cage-like structures that can encapsulate various guest atoms or molecules. Here we present an electrochemical evaluation of type I silicon clathrates based on Ba 8 Al y Si 46-y for the anode material in lithium-ion batteries. Post-cycling characterization with NMR and XRD show no discernible structural or volume changes even after electrochemical insertion of 44 Li into the clathrate structure. The observed properties are in stark contrast with lithiation of other silicon anodes, which become amorphous and suffer from larger volume changes. The lithiation/delithiation processes are proposed to occur in single phase reactions at approximately 0.2 and 0.4 V vs. Li/Li + , respectively, distinct from other diamond cubic or amorphous silicon anodes. Reversible capacities as high as 499 mAh g -1 at a 5 mA g -1 rate were observed for silicon clathrate with composition Ba 8 Al 8.54 S i37.46 , corresponding to Li:Si of 1.18:1. The results show that silicon clathrates could be promising durable anodes for lithium-ion batteries.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Polycaprolactone‐Based Zinc Ink for High Conductivity Transient Printed Electronics and Antennas

Abstract Distributed sensors and electronics can be used in agriculture to optimize crop management and improve environmental outcomes. Electronic devices in these outdoor spaces require medium to long range (>1m) wireless communication of data over several weeks or months, which in turn requires high conductivity (1 × 10 5 Sm −1 ) antennas. Printed bioinert or ecoresorbable conductors, comprising carbon, magnesium, or zinc fillers, typically exhibit conductivity on the order of 10–1000 Sm −1 and lifetimes from a few hours to a few days. A print‐based fabrication process for chemically treated zinc traces, which achieves conductivity of up to 6 × 10 5 Sm −1 is reported here. The ink formulation uses a non‐water‐soluble soil biodegradable polycaprolactone binder. The ink and printing processes reported here led to stable conductive traces that are used in ultra high frequency radio frequency identification (UHF‐RFID) folded dipole antennas operating at 915 MHz. The conductivity of the printed traces is maintained for over 70 days in ambient environments when traces are protected by a biodegradable beeswax encapsulation layer.

Baumbauer, Carol L.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Extreme Enhancement-Mode Operation Accumulation Channel Hydrogen-Terminated Diamond FETs with V th < -6 V and High on-Current

In this work, a new Field Effect Transistor device concept based on hydrogen-terminated diamond (H-diamond) is demonstrated that operates in an Accumulation Channel rather than a Transfer Doping regime. The FET devices demonstrate both extreme enhancement-mode operation and high on-current with improved channel charge mobility compared to Transfer-Doped equivalents. Electron-beam evaporated Al 2 O 3 is used on H-diamond to suppress the Transfer Doping mechanism and produce an extremely high ungated channel resistance. A high-quality H-diamond surface with an unpinned Fermi level is crucially achieved, allowing for the formation of a high-density hole accumulation layer by gating the entire device channel which is encapsulated in dual-stacks of Al 2 O 3 . Completed devices with gate/channel length of 1 µm demonstrate record threshold voltage < -6 V with on-current > 80 mA mm -1 . Carrier density and mobility figures extracted by CV analysis indicate a high 2D charge density of ≈ 2 × 10 12 cm -2 and increased hole mobility of 110 cm 2 V -1 s -1 in comparison with more traditional Transfer-Doped H-diamond FETs. These results demonstrate the most negative threshold voltage yet reported for H-diamond FETs and highlight a powerful new strategy to greatly improve carrier mobility and enable enhanced high power and high frequency diamond transistor performance.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2016

Facile thiol-ene thermal crosslinking reaction facilitated hole-transporting layer for highly efficient and stable perovskite solar cells

A crosslinked organic hole-transporting layer (HTL) is developed to realize highly efficient and stable perovskite solar cells via a facile thiol-ene thermal reaction. This crosslinked HTL not only facilitates hole extraction from perovskites, but also functions as an effective protective barrier. Lastly, a high-performance (power conversion efficiency: 18.3%) device is demonstrated to show respectable photo and thermal stability without encapsulation.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Bimetallic Cobalt-Based Phosphide Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework: CoP x Phase-Dependent Electrical Conductivity and Hydrogen Atom Adsorption Energy for Efficient Overall Water Splitting

Cobalt-based bimetallic phosphide encapsulated in carbonized zeolitic imadazolate frameworks has been successfully synthesized and showed excellent activities toward both hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Density functional theory calculation and electrochemical measurements reveal that the electrical conductivity and electrochemical activity are closely associated with the Co2P/CoP mixed phase behaviors upon Cu metal doping. This relationship is found to be the decisive factor for enhanced electrocatalytic performance. Moreover, the precise control of Cu content in Co-host lattice effectively alters the Gibbs free energy for H* adsorption, which is favorable for facilitating reaction kinetics. Impressively, an optimized performance has been achieved with mild Cu doping in Cu0.3Co2.7P/nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) which exhibits an ultralow overpotential of 0.19 V at 10 mA cm–2 and satisfying stability for OER. Cu0.3Co2.7P/NC also shows excellent HER activity, affording a current density of 10 mA cm–2 at a low overpotential of 0.22 V. In addition, a homemade electrolyzer with Cu0.3Co2.7P/NC paired electrodes shows 60% larger current density than Pt/ RuO2 couple at 1.74 V, along with negligible catalytic deactivation after 50 h operation. The manipulation of electronic structure by controlled incorporation of second metal sheds light on understanding and synthesizing bimetallic transition metal phosphides for electrolysis-based energy conversion.

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory↗
DOE OSTI2017

Hybrid Composite Coatings for Durable and Efficient Solar Hydrogen Generation under Diverse Operating Conditions

Safe and practical solar-driven hydrogen generators must be capable of efficient and stable operation under diurnal cycling with full separation of gaseous H 2 and O 2 products. In this paper, a novel architecture that fulfills all of these requirements is presented. The approach is inherently scalable and provides versatility for operation under diverse electrolyte and lighting conditions. The concept is validated using a 1 cm 2 triple-junction photovoltaic cell with its illuminated photocathode protected by a composite coating comprising an organic encapsulant with an embedded catalytic support. The device is compatible with operation under conditions ranging from 1 M H 2 SO 4 to 1 M KOH, enabling flexibility in selection of semiconductor, electrolyte, membrane, and catalyst. Stable operation at a solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of >10% is demonstrated under continuous operation, as well as under diurnal light cycling for at least 4 d, with simulated sunlight. Operational characteristics are validated by extended time outdoor testing. A membrane ensures products are separated, with nonexplosive gas streams generated for both alkaline and acidic systems. Finally, analysis of operational characteristics under different lighting conditions is enabled by comparison of a device model to experimental data.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Electrospray-Assisted Fabrication of Moisture-Resistant and Highly Stable Perovskite Solar Cells at Ambient Conditions

An electrospray deposition technique to fabricate a perovskite (CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 ) layer for highly stable and efficient perovskite solar cells at ambient humidity (30%–50% relative humidity) conditions is demonstrated. A detailed study is conducted to determine the effect of different electrospray parameters on the device performance and to provide a mechanistic explanation of the superior stability of the films. Due to the controlled reactivity that results in the formation of a smooth perovskite film, these cells exhibit stability exceeding 4000 h, in contrast to much lower stability of those fabricated by conventional spin coating methods. Furthermore, the perovskite film deposited by electrospray methods exhibits a self-healing behavior when exposed to moisture. The authors hypothesize the formation of an intermediate metastable phase and smooth morphology of the film as the reason for this enhanced stability. Electrospray is a scalable technique that provides precise control over the amount of material required for deposition, reducing significant material loss that occurs in conventional solution-based methods. Overall, this work shows that stability of perovskite solar cells can be improved by fabrication using a well controlled and optimized electrospray technique, without the use of any additives or cell encapsulants.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

A Shell-Shaped Carbon Architecture with High-Loading Capability for Lithium Sulfide Cathodes

We present that lithium sulfide (Li 2 S) is considered a highly attractive cathode for establishing high-energy-density rechargeable batteries, especially due to its high charge-storage capacity and compatibility with lithium-metal-free anodes. Although various approaches have recently been pursued with Li 2 S to obtain high performance, formidable challenges still remain with cell design (e.g., low Li 2 S loading, insufficient Li 2 S content, and an excess electrolyte) to realize high areal, gravimetric, and volumetric capacities. This study demonstrates a shell-shaped carbon architecture for holding pure Li 2 S, offering innovation in cell-design parameters and gains in electrochemical characteristics. The Li 2 S core–carbon shell electrode encapsulates the redox products within the conductive shell so as to facilitate facile accessibility to electrons and ions. The fast redox-reaction kinetics enables the cells to attain the highest Li 2 S loading of 8 mg cm -2 and the lowest electrolyte/Li 2 S ratio of 9/1, which is the best cell-design specifications ever reported with Li 2 S cathodes so far. Lastly, benefiting from the excellent cell-design criterion, the core–shell cathodes exhibit stable cyclability from slow to fast cycle rates and, for the first time, simultaneously achieve superior performance metrics with areal, gravimetric, and volumetric capacities.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Interpenetrating Triphase Cobalt-Based Nanocomposites as Efficient Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysts for Long-Lasting Rechargeable Zn–Air Batteries

Rational construction of atomic-scale interfaces in multiphase nanocomposites is an intriguing and challenging approach to developing advanced catalysts for both oxygen reduction (ORR) and evolution reactions (OER). In this paper, a hybrid of interpenetrating metallic Co and spinel Co 3 O 4 “Janus” nanoparticles stitched in porous graphitized shells (Co/Co 3 O 4 @PGS) is synthesized via ionic exchange and redox between Co 2+ and 2D metal–organic-framework nanosheets. This strategy is proven to effectively establish highways for the transfer of electrons and reactants within the hybrid through interfacial engineering. Specifically, the phase interpenetration of mixed Co species and encapsulating porous graphitized shells provides an optimal charge/mass transport environment. Furthermore, the defect-rich interfaces act as atomic-traps to achieve exceptional adsorption capability for oxygen reactants. Finally, robust coupling between Co and N through intimate covalent bonds prohibits the detachment of nanoparticles. As a result, Co/Co 3 O 4 @PGS outperforms state-of-the-art noble-metal catalysts with a positive half-wave potential of 0.89 V for ORR and a low potential of 1.58 V at 10 mA cm -2 for OER. Finally, in a practical demonstration, ultrastable cyclability with a record lifetime of over 800 h at 10 mA cm -2 is achieved by Zn–air batteries with Co/Co 3 O 4 @PGS within the rechargeable air electrode.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Solid-State Lithium/Selenium–Sulfur Chemistry Enabled via a Robust Solid-Electrolyte Interphase

Lithium/selenium-sulfur batteries have recently received considerable attention due to their relatively high specific capacities and high electronic conductivity. Different from the traditional encapsulation strategy for suppressing the shuttle effect, an alternative approach to directly bypass polysulfide/polyselenide formation via rational solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) design is demonstrated here. It is found that the robust SEI layer that in situ forms during charge/discharge via interplay between rational cathode design and optimal electrolytes could enable solid-state (de)lithiation chemistry for selenium-sulfur cathodes. Hence, Se-doped S 22.2 Se/Ketjenblack cathodes can attain a high reversible capacity with minimal shuttle effects during long-term and high rate cycling. Moreover, the underlying solid-state (de)lithiation mechanism, as evidenced by in situ 7 Li NMR and in operando synchrotron X-ray probes, further extends the optimal sulfur confinement pore size to large mesopores and even macropores that have been long considered as inferior sulfur or selenium host materials, which play a crucial role in developing high volumetric energy density batteries. It is expected that the findings in this study will ignite more efforts to tailor the compositional/structure characteristics of the SEI layers and the related ionic transport across the interface by electrode structure, electrolyte solvent, and electrolyte additive screening.

(de)lithiation chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2019

Improved Efficiency and Stability of Pb/Sn Binary Perovskite Solar Cells Fabricated by Galvanic Displacement Reaction

In this work, a simple and generally applicable method of fabricating efficient and stable Pb-Sn binary perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) based on a galvanic displacement reaction (GDR) is demonstrated. Different from the commonly used conventional approaches to form perovskite precursor solutions by mixing metal halides and organic halides such as PbI 2 , SnI 2 , MAI, FAI, etc., together, the precursor solutions are formulated by reacting pure Pb-based perovskite precursor solutions with fine Sn metal powders. After the ratios between Pb and Sn are optimized, high PCEs of 15.85% and 18.21% can be achieved for MAPb 0.4 Sn 0.6 I 3 and (FAPb 0.6 Sn 0.4 I 3 ) 0.85 (MAPb 0.6 Sn 0.4 Br 3 ) 0.15 based PVSCs, which are the highest PCEs among all values reported to date for Pb-Sn binary PVSCs. Moreover, the GDR perovskite-based PVSCs exhibit significantly improved ambient and thermal stability with encapsulation, which can retain more than 90% of their initial PCEs after being stored in ambient (relative humidity (RH) ≈50%) for 1000 h or being thermal annealed at 80 °C for more than 120 h in ambient conditions. These results demonstrate the advantage of using GDR to prepare tunable bandgap binary perovskites for devices with greatly improved performance and stability.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Enhanced Nucleation of Atomic Layer Deposited Contacts Improves Operational Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells in Air

Metal-halide perovskites show promise as highly efficient solar cells, light-emitting diodes, and other optoelectronic devices. Ensuring long-term stability is now a major priority. In this study, an ultrathin (2 nm) layer of polyethylenimine ethoxylated (PEIE) is used to functionalize the surface of C 60 for the subsequent deposition of atomic layer deposition (ALD) SnO 2 , a commonly used electron contact bilayer for p-i-n devices. The enhanced nucleation results in a more continuous initial ALD SnO 2 layer that exhibits superior barrier properties, protecting Cs 0.25 FA 0.75 Pb(Br 0.20 | 0.80 ) 3 films upon direct exposure to high temperatures (200 degrees C) and water. This surface modification with PEIE translates to more stable solar cells under aggressive testing conditions in air at 60 degrees C under illumination. This type of 'built-in' barrier layer mitigates degradation pathways not addressed by external encapsulation, such as internal halide or metal diffusion, while maintaining high device efficiency up to 18.5%. This nucleation strategy is also extended to ALD VOx films, demonstrating its potential to be broadly applied to other metal oxide contacts and device architectures.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Autonomous Strategies for Improved Performance and Reliability of Li‐Ion Batteries

Abstract The battery community has devoted significant effort to improve the performance and reliability of Li‐ion batteries through the development of new materials. The integration of autonomous function provides an alternative strategy to further extend performance. Autonomous material systems mimic the ability of biological systems to self‐protect, sense, regulate, and heal in response to damage and other environmental changes. When incorporated in batteries, these materials enable autonomic restoration of battery performance upon degradation, as well as autonomic shutdown or extinguishment in response to thermal runaway. Successful strategies for improving Li‐ion battery performance include controlled release of microencapsulated functional additives and the integration of self‐healing or adaptive interlayers and binders. These methods have been effective for stabilizing the solid electrolyte interface, preventing battery fires, restoring electrode conductivity, and suppressing Li dendrite growth. Challenges and opportunities exist in the further application of autonomous strategies in the battery environment. A greater variety of encapsulated additives with precise triggered‐release are needed to address specific battery degradation mechanisms. Incorporation of self‐healing polymers in solid‐state batteries facilitates improvement in interfacial and mechanical stability. The integration of autonomous strategies with battery management systems potentially enables enhanced control over multiple battery cycling parameters.

Zhao, Lihong↗