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NASA NTRS2024

Smallsat 2024 - Starling Cubesat Swarm Technology Demonstration Flight Results

The Starling swarm of four 6U CubeSats launched in July 2023 to test four key technologies to enable future swarm missions: 1) Mobile Ad-Hoc Networking (MANET) over a crosslink radio network 2) Autonomous onboard decision-making for operations 3) Optical-based absolute and relative navigation 4) Autonomous maneuver planning and execution The Starling team implemented the Better Approach to Mobile Ad-hoc Networking (B.A.T.M.A.N.) protocol to automatically manage the crosslink network of four satellites. The B.A.T.M.A.N. protocol uses a decentralized approach to managing a multi-hop mesh network of devices, in this case, a satellite swarm. The four satellites were able to successfully establish a network at multiple data rates and demonstrate file transfer and command issuance between spacecraft over the network. Starling incorporated Distributed Spacecraft Autonomy's (DSA) software to demonstrate onboard decision-making. The DSA software takes L1/L2 band GPS measurements and uses them to estimate the relative Total Electron Count (TEC) in the ionosphere. The onboard software then determines if there are any features of interest and provides that information to the other satellites over the crosslink network. The swarm of satellites then reaches a consensus on the optimal TEC observation strategy and adjusts its measurement collection tactics autonomously. The Starling Formation-Flying Optical Experiment (StarFOX), produced by Stanford's Space Rendezvous Laboratory, uses the onboard star trackers to collect images of the other swarm spacecraft and produce angles-only navigation estimates. This system is envisioned to be valuable in applications in which Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are not available, such as in cis-lunar or deep space. StarFOX successfully applied its algorithms to multiple simultaneous spacecraft targets using the star tracker imagery. Finally, Starling used Emergent Space's Cluster Flight Application (CFA) software suite for the Reconfiguration and Orbit Maintenance Experiments Onboard (ROMEO) demonstration of autonomously planning and executing propulsive maneuvers. Large swarms will need to be able to maintain formation requirements with minimal operator involvement, especially as the size of the swarm scales up. Results from the ROMEO experiment are presented. Starling is funded by the Small Spacecraft Technology (SST) program out of NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD).

distributed systems↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Enabling Universal Access to Power on the Lunar Surface

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Artemis Missions will return human astronauts to the lunar surface, demonstrate technologies that establish a sustained presence on the lunar surface and enable human missions to Mars, and help create a lunar commercial economy. Creating a sustained permanent presence on the lunar surface will require access to continuous and highly reliable power to support mission needs. During Artemis, lunar surface operations will evolve and grow over time (years), requiring an increase in the amount of power needed (100s of kW) and distance that the power must be transmitted (up to 10 km during early Artemis missions). A lunar commercial economy is likely to exceed this power demand to the MW level and distance in the 100s of km. This increased distance and demand for highly reliable power drives the need to create an electric power grid by connecting localized lunar power systems (e.g., habitats, in-situ resource utilization plants, etc.), each containing one or more loads and/or sources. Developing a lunar surface power grid will allow lunar surface operations to resemble electrical utility operations on Earth; it allows power to be generated where it is convenient and allows power to be consumed where it is convenient and required. A lunar surface electric power grid will facilitate the growth of a lunar commercial economy because it provides a means to connect new loads to an existing electrical power system. A common standardized interface to the grid and a set of standardized voltages is required to take full advantage of the benefits of an electric power grid, similar to the terrestrial power grid. NASA Glenn Research Center is leading an effort to create universal access to power through the development of the Universal Modular Interface Converter (UMIC). The UMIC is designed to have a common interface that connects sources and loads compliant with the International Space Power System Interoperability Standard (ISPSIS) to a higher voltage AC transmission system or power grid. This presentation will further discuss the evolution of power during the Artemis missions, challenges associated with creating a sustained presence on the lunar surface, progress made on the UMIC, and future opportunities for technology development and standards.

space power systems↗

DOE OSTI2023

Optimization of transformer ratio and beam loading in a plasma wakefield accelerator with a structure-exploiting algorithm

Plasma-based acceleration has emerged as a promising candidate as an accelerator technology for a future linear collider or a next-generation light source. We consider the plasma wakefield accelerator (PWFA) concept where a plasma wave wake is excited by a particle beam and a trailing beam surfs on the wake. For a linear collider, the energy transfer efficiency from the drive beam to the wake and from the wake to the trailing beam must be large, while the emittance and energy spread of the trailing bunch must be preserved. One way to simultaneously achieve this when accelerating electrons is to use longitudinally shaped bunches and nonlinear wakes. In the linear regime, there is an analytical formalism to obtain the optimal shapes. In the nonlinear regime, however, the optimal shape of the driver to maximize the energy transfer efficiency cannot be precisely obtained because currently no theory describes the wake structure and excitation process for all degrees of nonlinearity. In addition, the ion channel radius is not well defined at the front of the wake where the plasma electrons are not fully blown out by the drive beam. We present results using a novel optimization method to effectively determine a current profile for the drive and trailing beam in PWFA that provides low energy spread, low emittance, and high acceleration efficiency. We parameterize the longitudinal beam current profile as a piecewise-linear function and define optimization objectives. For the trailing beam, the algorithm converges quickly to a nearly inverse trapezoidal trailing beam current profile similar to that predicted by the ultrarelativistic limit of the nonlinear wakefield theory. For the drive beam, the beam profile found by the optimization in the nonlinear regime that maximizes the transformer ratio also resembles that predicted by linear theory. Furthermore, the current profiles found from the optimization method provide higher transformer ratios compared with the linear ramp predicted by the relativistic limit of the nonlinear theory.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

NASA NTRS1987

Cryogenic Fluid Management Technology Workshop. Volume 1: Presentation material and discussion

The major objective of the workshop was to identify future NASA needs for technology that will allow the management of subcritical cryogenic fluids in the low gravity space environment. Workshop participants were asked to identify those technologies which will require in-space experimentation and are thus candidates for inclusion in the flight experiment being defined at the Lewis Research Center.

Aydelott, John C.↗

DOE OSTI2024

Exciton Dynamics in Layered Halide Perovskite Light‐Emitting Diodes

Abstract Layered halide perovskites have garnered significant interest due to their exceptional optoelectronic properties and great promises in light‐emitting applications. Achieving high‐performance perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs) requires a deep understanding of exciton dynamics in these materials. This review begins with a fundamental overview of the structural and photophysical properties of layered halide perovskites, then delves into the importance of dimensionality control and cascade energy transfer in quasi‐2D PeLEDs. In the second half of the review, more complex exciton dynamics, such as multiexciton processes and triplet exciton dynamics, from the perspective of LEDs are explored. Through this comprehensive review, an in‐depth understanding of the critical aspects of exciton dynamics in layered halide perovskites and their impacts on future research and technological advancements for layered halide PeLEDs is provided.

Baek, Sung‐Doo↗

DOE OSTI2023

Chemical Design of Organic Interface Modifiers for Highly Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have demonstrated rapid progress in their power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) - from 3.8% in 2009 to 25.7% in 2022 - and they have received considerable attention as a promising future photovoltaic (PV) technology. However, the operational stability of PSCs is still inadequate to satisfy the standards for commercial applications. Interface engineering has become one of the most important strategies to push PSCs' efficiency and stability for practical use. Among the various interface engineering approaches, organic interface modifiers (OIMs) have been frequently used by the PSC field to address the issues limiting PSC stability at high efficiency levels. In this perspective, the chemical structures of state-of-the-art OIMs are discussed, and their characteristics are reviewed, as well as the impact on device performance associated with key device interfaces (e.g., metal oxide/perovskite and organic transport layer/perovskite interfaces) from a chemical and materials engineering point of view is discussed. Finally, design considerations and the authors' perspective are discussed, on the basis of representative literature examples, for building new, customized organic OIMs to further improve PSC efficiency and stability toward commercialization.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2023

Understanding Electrochemical Reaction Mechanisms of Sulfur in All‐Solid‐State Batteries through Operando and Theoretical Studies **

Abstract Due to its outstanding safety and high energy density, all‐solid‐state lithium‐sulfur batteries (ASLSBs) are considered as a potential future energy storage technology. The electrochemical reaction pathway in ASLSBs with inorganic solid‐state electrolytes is different from Li‐S batteries with liquid electrolytes, but the mechanism remains unclear. By combining operando Raman spectroscopy and ex situ X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, we investigated the reaction mechanism of sulfur (S 8 ) in ASLSBs. Our results revealed that no Li 2 S 8, Li 2 S 6, and Li 2 S 4 were formed, yet Li 2 S 2 was detected. Furthermore, first‐principles structural calculations were employed to disclose the formation energy of solid state Li 2 S n (1≤ n ≤8), in which Li 2 S 2 was a metastable phase, consistent with experimental observations. Meanwhile, partial S 8 and Li 2 S 2 remained at the full lithiation stage, suggesting incomplete reaction due to sluggish reaction kinetics in ASLSBs.

Cao, Daxian↗

DOE OSTI2023

Understanding Electrochemical Reaction Mechanisms of Sulfur in All‐Solid‐State Batteries through Operando and Theoretical Studies **

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2024

Algae to HEFA : Economics and potential deployment in the United States

Abstract To reach the goals set by the US Department of Energy's Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Grand Challenge, currently available feedstocks may be insufficient. Giving priority to developing, prototyping and reducing the cost of algal feedstock before investing and lining up locations is important. As the production of algal feedstocks advances, a simplified conversion approach using more mature technologies can help reduce the investment risk for algae‐based fuels. Reducing process complexity to the steps described here [namely, conversion of lipids to HEFA (hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids) fuels and relegating the remainder of the biomass to anaerobic digestion or food/feed production] enables the near‐term production of algal SAF but presents challenging economics depending on achievable cultivation costs and compositional quality. However, these economics can be improved by present‐day policy incentives. With these incentives, the modeled algae‐to‐HEFA pathway could reach a minimum fuel selling price as low as $4.7 per gasoline gallon equivalent depending on the carbon intensity reduction that can be achieved compared with petroleum. Uncertainty about algal feedstock production maturity in the current state of technology and the future will play a large role in determining the economic feasibility of building algae‐to‐HEFA facilities. For example, if immaturity increases the feedstock price by even 10%, SAF production in 2050 is about 58% of the production which could have been achieved with mature feedstock. Additionally, growth in this conversion pathway can be notably boosted through the inclusion of subsidies, and also through higher‐value coproducts or higher lipid yields beyond the scope of the process considered here.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2020

Valence-to-core X-ray emission spectroscopy of titanium compounds using energy dispersive detectors

X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) of transition metal compounds is a powerful tool for investigating the spin and oxidation state of the metal centers. Valence-to-core (vtc) XES is of special interest, as it contains information on the ligand nature, hybridization, and protonation. To date, most vtc-XES studies have been performed with high-brightness sources, such as synchrotrons, due to the weak fluorescence lines from vtc transitions. Here, we present a systematic study of the vtc-XES for different titanium compounds in a laboratory setting using an X-ray tube source and energy dispersive microcalorimeter sensors. With a full-width at half-maximum energy resolution of approximately 4 eV at the Ti Kβ lines, we measure the XES features of different titanium compounds and compare our results for the vtc line shapes and energies to previously published and newly acquired synchrotron data as well as to new theoretical calculations. Finally, we report simulations of the feasibility of performing time-resolved vtc-XES studies with a laser-based plasma source in a laboratory setting. Our results show that microcalorimeter sensors can already perform high-quality measurements of vtc-XES features in a laboratory setting under static conditions and that dynamic measurements will be possible in the future after reasonable technological developments.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2023

Plastic Laminate Antireflective Coatings for Millimeter-Wave Optics in BICEP Array

The BICEP/Keck series of experiments target the cosmic microwave background at degree-scale resolution from the South Pole. Over the next few years, the “Stage-3” BICEP Array (BA) telescope will improve the program’s frequency coverage and sensitivity to primordial B-mode polarization by an order of magnitude. The first receiver in the array, BA1, began observing at 30/40 GHz in early 2020. The next two receivers, BA2 and BA3, are currently being assembled and will map the southern sky at frequencies ranging from 95 to 150 GHz. Common to all BA receivers is a refractive, on-axis, cryogenic optical design that focuses microwave radiation onto a focal plane populated with antenna-coupled bolometers. High-performance antireflective coatings up to 760 mm in aperture are needed for each element in the optical chain, and must withstand repeated thermal cycles down to 4 K. Here, in this work, we present the design and fabrication of the 30/40 GHz anti-reflection coatings for the recently deployed BA1 receiver, with indices matched to its various polyethylene, nylon and alumina optical components. We describe an epoxy coating technique designed for alumina optics, which achieves better than 80% transmission at room temperature. For polyethylene optical elements, we present a new heat-compression approach that allows low-density polytetrafluoroethylene AR layers to reach sub-percent reflected power. We describe the planned use of these methods for the next BA cryostats, which may inform technological choices for future small-aperture telescopes of the CMB-S4 experiment.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Magnet-superconductor hybrid quantum systems: a materials platform for topological superconductivity

Magnet–superconductor hybrid (MSH) systems have recently emerged as one of the most significant developments in condensed matter physics. This has generated, in the last decade, a steadily rising interest in the understanding of their unique properties. They have been proposed as one of the most promising platforms for the establishment of topological superconductivity, which holds high potential for application in future quantum information technologies. Their emergent electronic properties stem from the exchange interaction between the magnetic moments and the superconducting condensate. Given the atomic-level origin of such interaction, it is of paramount importance to investigate new magnet–superconductor hybrids at the atomic scale. In this regard, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy are playing a crucial role in the race to unveil the fundamental origin of the unique properties of MSH systems, with the aim to discover new hybrid quantum materials capable of hosting topologically non-trivial unconventional superconducting phases. In particular, the combination of STM studies with tight-binding model calculations have represented, so far, the most successful approach to unveil and explain the emergent electronic properties of MSHs. The scope of this review is to offer a broad perspective on the field of MSHs from an atomic-level investigation point-of-view. The focus is on discussing the link between the magnetic ground state hosted by the hybrid system and the corresponding emergent superconducting phase. This is done for MSHs with both one-dimensional (atomic chains) and two-dimensional (atomic lattices and thin films) magnetic systems proximitized to conventional s-wave superconductors. We present a systematic categorization of the experimentally investigated systems with respect to defined experimentally accessible criteria to verify or falsify the presence of topological superconductivity and Majorana edge modes. The discussion will start with an introduction to the physics of Yu–Shiba–Rusinov bound states at magnetic impurities on superconducting surfaces. This will be used as a base for the discussion of magnetic atomic chains on superconductors, distinguishing between ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic and non-collinear magnetic ground states. A similar approach will be used for the discussion of magnetic thin film islands on superconductors. Given the vast number of publications on the topic, we limit ourselves to discuss works which are most relevant to the search for topological superconductivity.

Majorana states↗

DOE OSTI2020

Structural changes of lignins in natural Populus variants during different pretreatments

In the present study, three leading pretreatment technologies including dilute acid (DA), liquid hot water (LHW), and organosolv pretreatments (OS) were applied on two Populus natural variants with different recalcitrance. The structural features of the isolated lignins were analyzed accordingly. All the studied pretreatments reduced the molecular weights of the lignins. Aliphatic OH was reduced while phenolic OH was increased in all pretreated lignins. HSQC analysis revealed that pretreatment influenced the lignin composition and relative distribution of inter-unit linkages. The lignin S/G ratio was found to increase during DA pretreatment, while it was decreased after LHW and OS pretreatment. LHW pretreatment also resulted in much less cleavage of β-O-4 linkage than the other two pretreatments. These results could offer guidelines on appropriate selection of biomass and pretreatment technology in the future biorefinery process.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2020

Fused ring non-fullerene acceptors with benzothiophene dioxide end groups and their side chain effect investigations

The development of small molecule-based non-fullerene acceptors (NF-SMAs) greatly advanced the performances of polymer solar cells (PSCs) in recent years. As the foreseeability of commercializing this technology in the future, interest in reducing the materials cost is rising. To this end, efforts have been made in this work on exploring the usage of commercially available chemical segment of benzothiophene dioxide (BC) in constructing efficient NF-SMAs. Thus, we designed and synthesized two BC-based NF-SMAs, which showed high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.59% also by device engineering and side chain engineering. Our work revealed the full potential of using BC end groups in constructing high-performance NF-SMAs and demonstrated the application of side chain engineering in tuning material properties and performances.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2024

The role of the iron and steel sector in achieving net zero U.S. CO 2 emissions by 2050

The U.S. steel sector is a hard-to-abate sector because of its heavy dependence on fossil fuels and its high capital requirements. In 2015, the sector was one of the major carbon emitters, contributing 10 % of the U.S. industrial CO 2 emissions. The ability to decarbonize the U.S. iron and steel sector directly affects the ability of the U.S. to achieve economy-wide net zero CO 2 by 2050. In this paper, we use the Global Change Analysis Model (GCAM) to analyze different U.S. steel sector decarbonization pathways under varying technology, policy, and demand futures. These pathways provide insights on how various low-carbon steelmaking technologies such as those using carbon capture and storage (CCS), hydrogen, or scrap could help reduce U.S. steel emissions by mid-century. In our primary decarbonization pathway, we find that nearly all of the conventional fossil-based steelmaking capacity is fully integrated with CCS by 2050. However, without CCS availability, almost all of the conventional fossil-based steelmaking is phased-out by 2050 and is replaced by hydrogen-based production. Scrap-based production continues to remain vital across both of these decarbonization pathways. Furthermore, we find that demand reduction could help reduce the required levels of CCS and hydrogen-based production in the decarbonization pathways. Implementation of advanced energy efficiency measures could help substantially reduce the sector's energy usage. Finally, we observe that addressing the embodied carbon transfer associated with steel imports will be crucial for fully decarbonizing the U.S. steel sector.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2026

Modeling the Potential Impact of Storage on the US Power Sector in a Multisector Dynamic Context

The electric power sector is expected to grow in size, importance, and complexity around the world as economies expand and electric supply technologies and demand patterns evolve in significant ways. At the same time the electric power sector may see substantial increases in VRE generating technologies which can add variability and uncertainty to the diurnal and seasonal profile of electric supply. With these forces in play, the emergence of modular, flexible electricity storage technologies may have profound impacts on the operation of electric power systems. Here we reduce a storage modeling gap in MSD models by incorporating grid-based electricity storage into the electric sector dynamics of the Global Change Analysis Model-USA (GCAM-USA) with improved power sector representation. We find a potentially significant role for storage technologies in the future of the U.S. power system, with storage capacity ranging from 7.7 to 14.7 GW in 2050 and 13.9 to 31.6 GW in 2100 across several techno-economic scenarios. We also find that storage can help to smooth variability in residual load arising from evolving electricity demands and the introduction of high shares of VRE to the electric grid. This reduces reliance on high-cost peaking generators, improves system-wide capacity factors, and limits curtailment of VRE.

Patel, Pralit L.↗

DOE OSTI2021

Effect of Ni particle size on the production of renewable methane from CO 2 over Ni/CeO 2 catalyst

Production of ‘renewable Methane’ has attracted renewed research interest as a fundamental probe reaction and process for CO 2 utilization through potential use in C1 fuel production and even for future space exploration technologies. CO 2 methanation is a structure sensitive reaction on Ni/CeO 2 catalysts. To precisely elucidate the size effect of the Ni metal center on the CO 2 methanation performance, we prepared 2%Ni/CeO 2 catalysts with pre-synthesized uniform Ni particles (2, 4 and 8 nm) on a high surface area CeO 2 support. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and ambient pressure X-ray photo spectroscopy (AP-XPS) characterization have confirmed that the catalyst structure and chemical state was uniform and stable under reaction conditions. The 8 nm sized catalyst showed superior methanation selectivity over the 4 and 2 nm counterparts, and the methanation activity in term of TOF is 10 times and 70 times higher than for the 4 and 2 nm counterparts, respectively. Here, the DRIFTS studies revealed that the larger Ni (8 nm particles) over CeO 2 efficiently facilitated the hydrogenation of the surface formate intermediates, which is proposed as the rate determining step accounting for the excellent CO 2 methanation performance.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2023

Aging gracefully? Investigating iridium oxide ink's impact on microstructure, catalyst/ionomer interface, and PEMWE performance

Here, in this study, we conducted a thorough investigation of the impact of aging iridium oxide (IrO 2 ) perfluorosulfonic acid ionomer ink for up to 14 days on the properties of the ink and the resulting catalyst layers. We examined ink properties, such as zeta potential, dynamic light scattering (DLS), density, surface tension, and rheology, as functions of ink aging time. To evaluate the microstructure and catalyst/ionomer interface, we employed transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray scattering, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. Furthermore, we assessed the effect of ink aging on the performance of proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs). Our findings reveal that most ink properties remain stable for 14 days. The variations in PEMWE cell performance are minimal, and no clear trend is observed in relation to ink aging time. This study demonstrates that the effects of aging the inks for 14 days on ink properties, catalyst layer structure, catalyst/ionomer interface, and PEMWE performance are negligible, indicating a substantial time window after ink preparation without any significant changes in its properties. These insights provide crucial guidance for the commercial production and coating processes of ink, which is necessary for scaling up PEM technologies to meet future demand.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗