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DOE OSTI2017

Three-dimensional bilayer garnet solid electrolyte based high energy density lithium metal–sulfur batteries

To simultaneously address the challenges of chemical/physical short circuits and electrode volume variation, we demonstrate in this paper a three-dimensional (3D) bilayer garnet solid-state electrolyte framework for advanced Li metal batteries. The dense layer is reduced in thickness to a few microns and still retains good mechanical stability, thereby enabling the safe use of Li metal anodes. The thick porous layer acts as a mechanical support for the thin dense layer which serves as a host for high loading of cathode materials and provides pathways for continuous ion transport. Results show that the integrated sulfur cathode loading can reach >7 mg cm -2 while the proposed hybrid Li–S battery exhibits a high initial coulombic efficiency (>99.8%) and high average coulombic efficiency (>99%) during the subsequent cycles. Finally, this electrolyte framework represents a promising strategy to revolutionize Li-metal batteries by transitioning to all-solid-state batteries and can be extended to other cathode materials.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

NASA NTRS2004

High Power Density Motors

With the growing concerns of global warming, the need for pollution-free vehicles is ever increasing. Pollution-free flight is one of NASA's goals for the 21" Century. , One method of approaching that goal is hydrogen-fueled aircraft that use fuel cells or turbo- generators to develop electric power that can drive electric motors that turn the aircraft's propulsive fans or propellers. Hydrogen fuel would likely be carried as a liquid, stored in tanks at its boiling point of 20.5 K (-422.5 F). Conventional electric motors, however, are far too heavy (for a given horsepower) to use on aircraft. Fortunately the liquid hydrogen fuel can provide essentially free refrigeration that can be used to cool the windings of motors before the hydrogen is used for fuel. Either High Temperature Superconductors (HTS) or high purity metals such as copper or aluminum may be used in the motor windings. Superconductors have essentially zero electrical resistance to steady current. The electrical resistance of high purity aluminum or copper near liquid hydrogen temperature can be l/lOO* or less of the room temperature resistance. These conductors could provide higher motor efficiency than normal room-temperature motors achieve. But much more importantly, these conductors can carry ten to a hundred times more current than copper conductors do in normal motors operating at room temperature. This is a consequence of the low electrical resistance and of good heat transfer coefficients in boiling LH2. Thus the conductors can produce higher magnetic field strengths and consequently higher motor torque and power. Designs, analysis and actual cryogenic motor tests show that such cryogenic motors could produce three or more times as much power per unit weight as turbine engines can, whereas conventional motors produce only 1/5 as much power per weight as turbine engines. This summer work has been done with Litz wire to maximize the current density. The current is limited by the amount of heat it generates. By increasing the heat transfer out of the wire, the wires can carry a larger current and therefore produce more force. This was done by increasing the surface area of the wire to allow more coolant to flow over it. Litz wire was used because it can carry high frequency current. It also can be deformed into configurations that would increase the surface area. The best configuration was determined by heat transfer and force plots that were generated using Maxwell 2D. Future work will be done by testing and measuring the thrust force produced by the wires in a magnetic field.

Kascak, Daniel J.↗

DOE OSTI2019

Oxygen adsorption on spontaneously reconstructed Au(511)

The four-fold site on {100} facets, which are potential catalytic sites on high-curvature gold nanoparticles, is difficult to prepare on a gold single crystal due to surface reconstruction. Here, the Au(511) surface with a high density of step edges and a well-maintained {100} local structure was studied by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), temperature programmed reaction spectroscopy (TPRS), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Annealing at 550 K and 870 K induces reconstruction on the Au(511) surface to a mixture of (311) and (711) micro-terraces. At room temperature and low oxygen coverage, oxygen adsorbs at both three- and four-fold sites on the surface, leading to a well-ordered zig-zag structure. Oxygen atoms cause significant orbital hybridization and a slight displacement of the gold atoms to which they bind. High oxygen coverages induce the formation of clusters, which are not active towards oxidation of isopropanol at room temperature and a pressure of 10-10 mbar. Oxygen adsorption saturates at 1 monolayer (ML), and two separate oxygen recombinative desorption peaks were observed at coverages above 0.11 ML. Our characterization of this surface and the O adsorption structure allows future studies of {100} micro-terraces for oxidation reactions, which contributes to studies on gold-based catalysts with an irregular shape.

catalysis (heterogeneous), mesostructured material↗

NASA NTRS1990

High power density dc/dc converter: Selection of converter topology

The work involved in the identification and selection of a suitable converter topology is described. Three new dc/dc converter topologies are proposed: Phase-Shifted Single Active Bridge DC/DC Converter; Single Phase Dual Active Bridges DC/DC Converter; and Three Phase Dual Active Bridges DC/DC Converter (Topology C). The salient features of these topologies are: (1) All are minimal in structure, i.e., each consists of an input and output bridge, input and output filter and a transformer, all components essential for a high power dc/dc conversion process; (2) All devices of both the bridges can operate under near zero-voltage conditions, making possible a reduction of device switching losses and hence, an increase in switching frequency; (3) All circuits operate at a constant frequency, thus simplifying the task of the magnetic and filter elements; (4) Since, the leakage inductance of the transformer is used as the main current transfer element, problems associated with the diode reverse recovery are eliminated. Also, this mode of operation allows easy paralleling of multiple modules for extending the power capacity of the system; (5) All circuits are least sensitive to parasitic impedances, infact the parasitics are efficently utilized; and (6) The soft switching transitions, result in low electromagnetic interference. A detailed analysis of each topology was carried out. Based on the analysis, the various device and component ratings for each topology operating at an optimum point, and under the given specifications, are tabulated and discussed.

Divan, Deepakraj M.↗

DOE OSTI2025

Cross-scale modeling and experimental integration for advancing cathode electrolyte interphase studies in high energy density lithium-ion batteries

Electrochemical interfaces are critical to the performance and durability of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The solid electrode-electrolyte interphase (SEI and CEI) structures that form during cycling can passivate reactive surfaces, ensuring safe operation, but also may contribute to performance degradation. Understanding the microscopic factors influencing interphase formation, growth, and evolution is essential for balanced battery design. While significant research has focused on the anode-electrolyte interphase (SEI), the cathode-electrolyte interphase (CEI) remains less explored, despite its importance in high-voltage and advanced battery technologies. Challenges in conducting in-situ or operando experiments arise from the occluded nature of these interfaces and the long timescales involved, often leading to biased interpretations. A validated multi-scale, multi-physics modeling approach, integrated with advanced characterization techniques, can effectively elucidate the intrinsic stability of electrolyte and cathode surfaces, the impact of chemical heterogeneity, and the role of microstructural features on CEI performance. In conclusion, this article reviews current modeling and simulation strategies for studying CEI in advanced LIBs and highlights opportunities for future methodological advancements and experimental integration.

Cathode-electrolyte interphase↗

NASA NTRS2018

Air Traffic Management Technology Demostration-1 (ATD-1) Avionics Phase 2 Flight Test and Results

NASA’s first Air Traffic Management Technology Demonstration (ATD-1) subproject successfully completed 19 days of flight test validation in January and February 2017 of an Interval Management (IM) avionics prototype and the procedures used to conduct IM arrival and approach operations. IM is one of the three elements integrated into NASA’s ATD-1 concept of operations with the subproject goal of improving aircraft efficiency and airport throughput during high-density arrival operations. The ATD-1 concept of operations combines advanced arrival scheduling, controller decision support tools, and interval management (IM) avionics to enable merging of multiple, time-based, efficient arrival streams. IM contributes to the operation by calculating speeds that enable an aircraft to precisely achieve a specific time or distance behind another aircraft. When precise spacing intervals can be calculated, achieved, and then maintained during high-density operations, aircraft efficiency should be improved by enabling the aircraft to remain closer to the optimum descent trajectory instead of using vectors and step-down altitudes, and airport throughput should be maintained or improved by each aircraft arriving at the runway threshold closer to the assigned spacing interval. This avionics development and flight test was conducted under a NASA contract by Boeing Research and Technology, with Boeing Commercial Aircraft, Honeywell, United Airlines, and Jeppesen as sub-contractors. The Honeywell built IM avionics were the first ever prototype built based on NASA requirements as well as developing and non-flight tested international IM standards, integrated into two test aircraft, and then flown in real-world conditions at the Grant County International Airport (KMWH). The IM prototype flown in the flight test used data from the Ownship and the assigned lead, or Target, aircraft to calculate the airspeed necessary for the Ownship to achieve the desired spacing. The flight test demonstrated that the IM avionics prototype generally met the IM requirement for spacing accuracy. However, the control laws implemented require further development to reduce the high IM speed command rate and the number of speed reversals observed during the test. Pilots assessed the IM procedure as acceptable, and issues requiring further attention were identified. In summary, the IM avionics prototype showed significant promise in contributing to the goals of improving aircraft efficiency and airport throughput. The flight test results also provided important data to the FAA and the working group developing the follow-on version of the international IM standards.

Baxley, Brian T.↗

DOE OSTI2026

Effects of screening and pressure ionization on the electron broadening of spectral lines in dense plasmas

Collisions between electrons and radiating atoms broaden spectral absorption and emission lines in dense plasmas. High densities also introduce screening and pressure ionization effects that distort the wave functions of both bound and free electrons. In order to study how dense plasma effects influence the electron broadening of spectral lines, this paper incorporates electron wave functions from an average-atom (AA) model to calculate the linewidth of the B III 2⁢𝑝−2⁢𝑠 transition at 𝑇 = 10 eV for mass densities ranging from 𝜌 = 10 −4 to 0.4⁢ g⁡/cc. The calculation method uses the impact approximation, allowing the linewidth to be written in terms of electron-collision cross sections and an interference term. Compared to an otherwise identical calculation that uses Coulomb free wave functions, the AA method is found to modify both the cross sections and the resulting linewidth at sufficiently high density by introducing screening and pressure-ionized bound states. Screening lowers the cross sections at low energies and near electron excitation thresholds, while pressure-ionized bound states introduce resonances into the continuum. Thus, as the density increases, the relative linewidth between the AA and Coulomb calculations follows a general decrease because of screening, with sharp increases at various intervals due to pressure ionization. Finally, the AA results are also compared with a common approach to introduce screening through the interaction potential and reduced models that use the Bethe formula for the inelastic electron-collision cross sections.

electronic excitation & ionization↗

DOE OSTI2017

The Greater Taurus–Auriga Ecosystem. I. There is a Distributed Older Population

The census of Taurus–Auriga has been assembled over seven decades and inherited the biases and incompleteness of the input studies. The unusual shape of its inferred initial mass function (IMF) and the existence of isolated disk-bearing stars suggest that additional (likely disk-free) members remain to be discovered. We therefore have begun a global reassessment of the census of Taurus–Auriga that exploits new data and better definitions of youth and kinematic membership. As a first step, we reconsider the membership of all disk-free candidate members from the literature with spectral type ≥F0, 3{sup h}50{sup m}<α<5{sup h}40{sup m}, and 14{sup ∘}<δ<34{sup ∘}. We combine data from the literature with Keck/HIRES and UH88/SNIFS spectra to test the membership of these candidates using the positions in the Hertzsprung-Russel diagram, proper motions, radial velocities, Hα, lithium, and surface gravity. We find 218 confirmed or likely Taurus members, 160 confirmed or likely interlopers, and only 18 that lack sufficient evidence to draw firm conclusions. A significant fraction of these stars (81/218 = 37%) are not included in the most recent canonical member lists. There are few additional members to the immediate vicinity of the molecular clouds, preserving the IMFs that have been deemed anomalous in past work. Many of the likely Taurus members are instead distributed broadly across the search area. When combined with the known disk hosts, our updated census reveals two regimes: a high-density population with a high disk fraction (indicative of youth) that broadly traces the molecular clouds, and a low-density population with low disk fraction (hence likely older) that most likely represents previous generations of star formation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

TPSAS-NF1676L-11456-DND

NASA’s precision scheduling and spacing research has matured to show the high potential of merging efficient flows in high density operations - Precision scheduling and efficient delay distribution minimizes early descent from enroute altitude and low-altitude vectoring - Precision merging and spacing control improves throughput - Enables the extended use of flight path optimization based procedures FAA/NASA/Industry collaboration is needed to accelerate implementation of ADS-B applications in a way that achieves the full benefit of NextGen operations to those that equip in high density airspace Integrated precision scheduling and spacing will to offer immediate and systematic benefits to airlines in many environments, even with different equipage levels and traffic densities

Harry Swenson↗

NASA NTRS1978

Photoelectrolysis of water at high current density - Use of laser light excitation of semiconductor-based photoelectrochemical cells

In the present paper, some results are given for UV laser light irradiation of the photoanode (SnO2, SrTiO3, or TiO2) in a cell for the light-driven electrolysis of H2O, at radiation intensities of up to 380 W/sq cm. The properties of the anode material are found to be independent of light intensity. Conversion of UV light to stored chemical energy in the form of 2H2/O2 from H2O was driven at a rate of up to 30 W/sq cm. High O2 evolution rates at the irradiated anodes without changes in the current-voltage curves are attributed to the excess oxidizing power associated with photogenerated holes. A test for this sort of hypothesis for H2 evolution at p-type materials is proposed.

Wrighton, M. S.↗

DOE OSTI2014

First-principles thermal conductivity of warm-dense deuterium plasmas for inertial confinement fusion applications

Thermal conductivity (κ) of both the ablator materials and deuterium-tritium (DT) fuel plays an important role in understanding and designing inertial confinement fusion (ICF) implosions. The extensively used Spitzer model for thermal conduction in ideal plasmas breaks down for high-density, low-temperature shells that are compressed by shocks and spherical convergence in imploding targets. A variety of thermal-conductivity models have been proposed for ICF hydrodynamic simulations of such coupled and degenerate plasmas. The accuracy of these κ models for DT plasmas has recently been tested against first-principles calculations using the quantum molecular-dynamics (QMD) method; although mainly for high densities (ρ >100 g/cm^3), large discrepancies in κ have been identified for the peak-compression conditions in ICF. To cover the wide range of density-temperature conditions undergone by ICF imploding fuel shells, we have performed QMD calculations of κ for a variety of deuterium densities of ρ = 1.0 to 673.518 g/cm^3, at temperatures varying from T = 5 × 10^3 K to T = 8 × 10^6 K. The resulting κQMD of deuterium is fitted with a polynomial function of the coupling and degeneracy parameters and θ, which can then be used in hydrodynamic simulation codes. Compared with the “hybrid” Spitzer-Lee-More model currently adopted in our hydrocode LILAC, the hydrosimulations using the fitted κQMD have shown up to 20% variations in predicting target performance for different ICF implosions on OMEGA and direct-drive–ignition designs for the National Ignition Facility (NIF). The lower the adiabat of an imploding shell, the more variations in predicting target performance using κQMD. Moreover, the use of κQMD also modifies the shock conditions and the density-temperature profiles of the imploding shell at early implosion stage, which predominantly affects the final target performance. This is in contrast to the previous speculation that κQMD changes mainly the inside ablation process during the hot-spot formation of an ICF implosion.

Hu, S. X.↗

DOE OSTI2014

Improvement in mechanical and barrier properties of polyethylene blown films using atomic layer deposition

Recently, thin films deposited on polymer substrates have been widely utilized as encapsulation barriers in electronic applications such as flexible displays, packaging films, and organic light-emitting diodes. The barrier and mechanical properties of these films are critical aspects when using them for protecting the inner modules of electronic devices from environmental factors such as moisture, oxygen, and sunlight. In particular, polymers can be degraded or decomposed more easily than other materials under such environmental conditions. Therefore, polymer films can be deposited using thin functional materials; however, suitable deposition methods for polymers are scarce owing to many limitations such as low melting/glass transition temperature, thermal degradation, and oxidation. In this study, a thin alumina oxide film was deposited on a high-density polyethylene blown film by using atomic layer deposition. The mechanical and barrier properties of the alumina oxide film deposited on the polyethylene film were characterized by a microtensile test and water vapor transmission rate test. Process conditions such as process temperature, plasma surface treatment, and number of cycles were varied to ascertain the reliability of the thin alumina oxide film deposited on the high-density polyethylene blown film. The results showed that the barrier property of the deposited film improved upon the application of plasma surface treatment, and that its mechanical properties varied under different process conditions.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2019

Cr(III) adsorption by cluster formation on boehmite nanoplates in highly alkaline solution

The development of advanced functional nanomaterials for selective adsorption in complex chemical environments requires partner studies of binding mechanisms. Motivated by observations of selective Cr(III) adsorption on boehmite nanoplates (?-AlOOH) in highly caustic multicomponent solutions of nuclear tank waste, here we unravel the adsorption mechanism in molecular detail. We examined Cr(III) adsorption to synthetic boehmite nanoplates in sodium hydroxide solutions up to 3 M, using a combination of XRD, Raman, XPS, STEM, EELS, HR-AFM, TOF-SIMS, Cr K-edge XANES/EXAFS, and EPR. Adsorption isotherms and kinetics were successfully fit to Langmuir and pseudo-second-order kinetic models, respectively, consistent with monotonic uptake of Cr(OH)4- monomers until saturation coverage of approximately half the aluminum surface site density. High resolution AFM revealed monolayer cluster self-assembly on the (010) basal surfaces with increasing Cr(III) loading, possessing a structural motif similar to ?-CrOOH, stabilized by corner-sharing Cr-O-Cr bonds and attached to the surface with edge-sharing Cr-O-Al bonds. The selective uptake appears related to short-range surface templating effects, with bridging metal connections likely enabled by hydroxyl anion ligand exchange reactions at the surface. Such a cluster formation mechanism, which stops short of more laterally extensive heteroepitaxy, could be a metal discrimination mechanism more prevalent than currently recognized.

Cui, Wenwen↗

NASA NTRS1976

Online mass storage system detailed requirements document

The requirements for an online high density magnetic tape data storage system that can be implemented in a multipurpose, multihost environment is set forth. The objective of the mass storage system is to provide a facility for the compact storage of large quantities of data and to make this data accessible to computer systems with minimum operator handling. The results of a market survey and analysis of candidate vendor who presently market high density tape data storage systems are included.

Source record↗

DOE OSTI2026

Development of large-scale, 3D Printed high temperature ceramic material

Through this collaborative effort, a new 3D printing platform for ceramics called laser-induced slip casting (LIS) was explored and developed for improving the processing and manufacture of silicon carbide (SiC), a high temperature ceramic material. This method prints layers of ceramic slips/slurries with subsequent selective-laser heating to dry each layer to build a 3D structure. The completed and dried part is then sintered. This manufacturing process is inherently lower cost than alternative ceramic printing methods such as binder jet technology or stereolithography when it comes to the feedstock material but is more expensive than robocasting or direct ink writing. However, it has the potential to make more controlled parts with less defects compared to robocasting. The largest cost is the heating source for the printer. With this technique, there is potential to make large ceramic parts in a near-net shape. Further, there is no known commercial manufacturing of 3D printed ceramics that creates a large range of different high-density ceramics at large scale. The goals and outcomes for the development of the new printing technology were: 1) assessing the technology with alumina by characterizing coupons, 2) printing and sintering of silicon carbide (SiC), and 3) characterization and properties testing of materials printed and a scale-up of SiC part(s). Through this collaborative project, it was sought to provide the best solution to achieving highly dense and near-net shaped ceramic parts at large scale and reduced cost. The goal was to produce high density sintered materials for applications in defense, energy generating systems, armor, and wear parts using 3D printing methods. Variables including powder particle sizes, dispersant molecular weights (MWs), binders, printing parameters, and post processing were explored as well as the characterization of the physical properties (add specifics here).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2015

Preferential void formation at crystallographically ordered grain boundaries in nanotwinned copper thin films

We report nanocrystalline materials are expected to have improved radiation resistance as the high density of grain boundary area is thought to act as an effective sink for radiation-induced defects. However, continued absorption of defects can alter the structure of grain boundaries and/or enhance their mobility, eventually leading to microstructural degradation in the form of grain coarsening, thus negating their initial radiation tolerance. Hence, an ideal microstructure might be one with a mix of boundaries that are effective sinks and limit grain coarsening. We show through in situ electron irradiation experiments, however, that this is an insufficient condition. Our observations indicate that even a high density of low energy coherent twin boundaries, supposedly stabilizing the microstructure against grain coarsening, can be a detriment in that it biases the mobility of vacancies accumulating during irradiation thereby resulting in preferential void nucleation near twin boundaries. These observations highlight the fact that radiation induced grain boundary migration depends greatly on the topology of the grain boundary network and that the migration of high-angle grain boundaries can be hindered when coordinated at triple junctions composed of at least two low-energy boundaries, e.g., coincidence site lattice boundaries.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRS1983

The electrical behavior of GaAs-insulator interfaces - A discrete energy interface state model

The relationship between the electrical behavior of GaAs Metal Insulator Semiconductor (MIS) structures and the high density discrete energy interface states (0.7 and 0.9 eV below the conduction band) was investigated utilizing photo- and thermal emission from the interface states in conjunction with capacitance measurements. It was found that all essential features of the anomalous behavior of GaAs MIS structures, such as the frequency dispersion and the C-V hysteresis, can be explained on the basis of nonequilibrium charging and discharging of the high density discrete energy interface states.

Kazior, T. E.↗

DOE OSTI2023

BICEP Array: 150 GHz Detector Module Development

The Background Imaging of Cosmic Extragalactic Polarization (BICEP)/Keck (BK) collaboration is currently leading the quest for the highest-sensitivity measurements of the polarized cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies on a degree scale with a series of cryogenic telescopes, of which BICEP Array (BA) is the latest Stage-3 upgrade with a total of ~ 32,000 detectors. The instrument comprises 4 receivers spanning 30–270 GHz, with the low-frequency 30/40 GHz deployed to the South Pole Station in late 2019. The full complement of receivers is forecast to set the most stringent constraints on the tensor-to-scalar ratio r. Building on these advances, the overarching small-aperture telescope concept is already being used as the reference for further Stage-4 experiment design. This paper describes the development of the BICEP Array 150 GHz detector module and its fabrication requirements, with highlights on the high-density time division multiplexing (TDM) design of the cryogenic circuit boards. The low-impedance wiring required between the detectors and the frst stage of superconducting quantum interference device amplifers is crucial to maintaining a stable bias current on the detectors. Here, a novel multilayer FR4 Printed Circuit Board with superconducting traces, capable of reading out up to 648 detectors, is detailed along with its validation tests. An ultra-high-density TDM detector module concept we developed for a CMB-S4-like experiment that allows up to 1920 detectors to be read out is also presented. TDM has been chosen as the detector readout technology for the Cosmic Microwave Background Stage-4 (CMB-S4) experiment based on its proven low-noise performance, predictable costs, and overall maturity of the architecture. The heritage for TDM is rooted in mm- and sub-mm-wave experiments dating back 20 years and has since evolved to support a multiplexing factor of 64x in Stage-3 experiments.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗