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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 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2016

Nonmonotonic pressure evolution of the upper critical field in superconducting FeSe

The pressure dependence of the upper critical field, H c2,c , of single crystalline FeSe was studied using measurements of the interplane resistivity, ρ c , in magnetic fields parallel to tetragonal c axis. H c2,c (T) curves obtained under hydrostatic pressures up to 1.56 GPa, the range over which the superconducting transition temperature, T c , of FeSe exhibits a nonmonotonic dependence with local maximum at p 1 ≈ 0.8 GPa and local minimum at p 2 ≈ 1.2 GPa. The slope of the upper critical field at T c ,(dH c2,c /dT)T c , also exhibits a nonmonotonic pressure dependence with distinct changes at p 1 and p 2 . For p < p 1 the slope can be described within a multiband orbital model. For both p 1 < p < p 2 and p > p 2 the slope is in good semiquantitative agreement with a single band, orbital Helfand-Werthamer theory with Fermi velocities determined from Shubnikov–de Haas measurements. Lastly, this finding indicates that Fermi surface changes are responsible for the local minimum of T c (p) at p 2 ≈ 1.2 GPa.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2018

Characterization of Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) Produced by Novel Bacterium Lysinibacillus sphaericus BBKGBS6 Isolated From Soil

The aim of the study was to characterization of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) produced by novel bacterium Lysinibacillus sphaericus BBKGBS6 isolated from soil. The present study reports that the strain L. sphaericus BBKGBS6, which was isolated from agricultural soil and is capable of producing PHB. Extraction of PHB was done by solvent extraction method. The results indicated the presence of crotonic acid and confirmed the presence of polyhydroxybutyrate in the sample. The FTIR spectra were observed characteristic absorption bonds for ester and the presence of C=O and C–O were obtained. GCMS results showed the major molecular fragmentation were, 117 m/z (C{sub 5}H{sub 9}O{sub 3}{sup +}), 104 m/z (C{sub 4}H{sub 7}O{sub 3}{sup +}), 74 m/z (C{sub 3}H{sub 6}O{sub 2}{sup +}), 61 m/z (C{sub 2}H{sub 3}O{sub 2}{sup +}), 43 m/z (C{sub 2}H{sub 3}O), 59 m/z (C{sub 2}H{sub 3}O). {sup 1}H and {sup 13}C NMR spectra were recorded using purified samples. The molecular weight of PHB (5.64 × 10{sup 5)} was estimated based on viscosity measurement. Films were prepared by the solvent casting method. The structure of crystalline polymers can be determined or refined through best fitting of X-ray powder diffraction profiles. The procedures provide results grossly in agreement with respect to the confirmation of the chain in the powder but differing significantly on a more detailed scale. Such differences represent an additional reason of interest in performing a new structural study. Differential scanning calorimetric experiments was performed using Universal V4.5A TA Instruments, (m.p. 156.61 °C; ΔH = 28.54 J/g) USIC Dharwad. The crystallinity (X{sub c}) of PHB is calculated as per equation given below X{sub c} = DH{sub f}×100/DH{sub 0}×W. The PHB extracted, PHB Sigma and PHB–TS showed two endothermal peaks in between 140 and 200 °C. The enthalpy of melting (ΔHf) was 28.09 J/g for standard PHB and for extracted one is 56.42 J/g. The glass transition temperature of the sample was 140 °C and amorphous temperature was 176.08 °C. Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) is a method of thermal analysis in which changes in physical and chemical properties of materials are measured as a function of increasing temperature (with constant heating rate), or as a function of time (with constant temperature and/or constant mass loss). The decomposition temperature at a 10% level determined by TGA for pure PHB in ScCO{sub 2} at 70 °C and 22 MPa was 293.32 °C. Tensile strength of PHB film (28.23 Mpa) was carried out according to ASTMD 882 using universal testing machine (Model Lx 5, LYOD ISNT). Water vapor transmission rate of PHB film (29 g/m{sup 2}/day) was measured as per ASTM E96-95 and carried out according to the desiccant method. Oxygen transmission rate of PHB film 472.36 (cc/m{sup 2}/day/atm 65% Rh and 27 °C) was measured as per the method of ASTM D-1434-66.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Space vehicle with customizable payload and docking station

A "black box" space vehicle solution may allow a payload developer to define the mission space and provide mission hardware within a predetermined volume and with predetermined connectivity. Components such as the power module, radios and boards, attitude determination and control system (ADCS), command and data handling (C&DH), etc. may all be provided as part of a "stock" (i.e., core) space vehicle. The payload provided by the payload developer may be plugged into the space vehicle payload section, tested, and launched without custom development of core space vehicle components by the payload developer. A docking station may facilitate convenient development and testing of the space vehicle while reducing handling thereof.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Space vehicle with customizable payload and docking station

A “black box” space vehicle solution may allow a payload developer to define the mission space and provide mission hardware within a predetermined volume and with predetermined connectivity. Components such as the power module, radios and boards, attitude determination and control system (ADCS), command and data handling (C&DH), etc. may all be provided as part of a “stock” (i.e., core) space vehicle. The payload provided by the payload developer may be plugged into the space vehicle payload section, tested, and launched without custom development of core space vehicle components by the payload developer. A docking station may facilitate convenient development and testing of the space vehicle while reducing handling thereof.

Judd, Stephen↗
DOE OSTI2017

The Tiam1 guanine nucleotide exchange factor is auto-inhibited by its pleckstrin homology coiled-coil extension domain

T-cell lymphoma invasion and metastasis 1 (Tiam1) is a Dbl-family guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) that specifically activates the Rho-family GTPase Rac1 in response to upstream signals, thereby regulating cellular processes including cell adhesion and migration. Tiam1 contains multiple domains, including an N-terminal pleckstrin homology coiled-coiled extension (PH n -CC-Ex) and catalytic Dbl homology and C-terminal pleckstrin homology (DH-PH c ) domain. Previous studies indicate that larger fragments of Tiam1, such as the region encompassing the N-terminal to C-terminal pleckstrin homology domains (PH n -PH c ), are auto-inhibited. However, the domains in this region responsible for inhibition remain unknown. Here, we show that the PH n -CC-Ex domain inhibits Tiam1 GEF activity by directly interacting with the catalytic DH-PH c domain, preventing Rac1 binding and activation. Enzyme kinetics experiments suggested that Tiam1 is auto-inhibited through occlusion of the catalytic site rather than by allostery. Small angle X-ray scattering and ensemble modeling yielded models of the PH n -PH c fragment that indicate it is in equilibrium between “open” and “closed” conformational states. Lastly, single-molecule experiments support a model in which conformational sampling between the open and closed states of Tiam1 contributes to Rac1 dissociation. Our results highlight the role of the PH n -CC-Ex domain in Tiam1 GEF regulation and suggest a combinatorial model for GEF inhibition and activation of the Rac1 signaling pathway.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

Organofunctional Silane Modification of Aluminum-Doped Zinc Oxide Surfaces as a Route to Stabilization

Aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) is a low-temperature processed transparent conductive oxide (TCO) made of earth abundant elements; its applications are currently limited by instability to heat, moisture, and acidic conditions. We demonstrate that the application of an organofunctional silane modifier mitigates AZO degradation, and explore the interplay between performance and material composition and morphology. Specifically, we evaluate degradation of bare AZO and APTES (3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane)-modified AZO in response to damp heat (DH, 85 °C, 85 % relative humidity) exposure over 1000 h, then demonstrate how surface modification impacts changes in electrical and optical properties, and chemical composition in one of the most thorough studies to date. Hall measurements show that the resistivity of AZO increases due to a decrease in electron mobility, with no commensurate change in carrier concentration. APTES decelerates this electrical degradation, without affecting AZO optical properties. Percent transmission and yellowness index of an ensemble of bare and modified AZO are stable upon DH exposure, but haze increases slightly for a discrete sample of modified AZO. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical profilometer (OP) measurements do not show evidence of pitting or delamination after 1000 h DH exposure, but indicate a slight increase in surface roughness on both the nanometer and micron length scales. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data (XPS) reveal that the surface composition of bare and silanized AZO is stable over this time frame; oxygen vacancies, as measured by XPS, are also stable with DH exposure, which, together with transmission and Hall measurements, indicate stable carrier concentrations. However, after 1500 h of DH exposure, only bare AZO shows signs of catastrophic destruction. Comparison of the data presented herein to previous reports indicates that the initial AZO composition and microstructure dictate the degradation profile. Furthermore, this work demonstrates that surface modification slows the bulk degradation of AZO, and provides insight into how the material can be more widely used as a transparent electrode in the next generation of optoelectronic devices.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Slope of the upper critical field at T c in two-band superconductors with nonmagnetic disorder: s + + superconductivity in Ba 1 − x K x Fe 2 As 2

A recent theory of the disorder-dependent slope of the upper critical field at the superconducting transition temperature T c , defined as S ≡ |dH c2 /dT| T→T c , is extended to multiband superconductors aimed at iron-based superconductors, considering two constant gaps of different magnitudes and, potentially, different signs. Here, we show that the slope S decreases with increasing nonmagnetic scattering rate P in the s ± pairing state and increases in the s ++ superconductor for a reasonable range of parameters. The experiment shows that in a typical iron-based superconductor, Ba 1–x K x Fe 2 As 2 (BaK122), the nonmagnetic disorder induced by electron irradiation leads to an increasing S(P) across the superconducting “dome,” at different x. This implies that Ba 1–x K x Fe 2 As 2 is likely an s ++ superconductor with two effective gaps of different magnitudes, at least at moderate doping levels, x< 0.6. This work reopens a decade-long discussion about the nature of the superconducting order parameter in iron pnictides.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Environmental stability of high-mobility indium-oxide based transparent electrodes

Large-scale deployment of a wide range of optoelectronic devices, including solar cells, critically depends on the long-term stability of their front electrodes. Here, we investigate the performance of Sn-doped In{sub 2}O{sub 3} (ITO), H-doped In{sub 2}O{sub 3} (IO:H), and Zn-doped In{sub 2}O{sub 3} (IZO) electrodes under damp heat (DH) conditions (85 °C, 85% relative humidity). ITO, IO:H capped with ITO, and IZO show high stability with only 3%, 9%, and 13% sheet resistance (R{sub s}) degradation after 1000 h of DH, respectively. For uncapped IO:H, we find a 75% R{sub s} degradation, due to losses in electron Hall mobility (μ{sub Hall}). We propose that this degradation results from chemisorbed OH- or H{sub 2}O-related species in the film, which is confirmed by thermal desorption spectroscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. While μ{sub Hall} strongly degrades during DH, the optical mobility (μ{sub optical}) remains unchanged, indicating that the degradation mainly occurs at grain boundaries.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Chiral heavy fermions in a two Higgs doublet model: 750 GeV resonance or not

For this article, we revisit models where a heavy chiral 4th generation doublet of fermions is embedded in a class of two Higgs doublets models (2HDM) with a discrete Z 2 symmetry, which couples the “heavy” scalar doublet only to the 4th generation fermions and the “light” one to the Standard Model (SM) fermions – the so-called 4G2HDM introduced by us several years ago. We study the constraints imposed on the 4G2HDM from direct searches of heavy fermions, from precision electroweak data (PEWD) and from the measured production and decay signals of the 125 GeV scalar, which in the 4G2HDM corresponds to the lightest CP-even scalar h. We then show that the recently reported excess in the γγspectrum around 750 GeV can be accommodated by the heavy CP-even scalar of the 4G2HDM, H, resulting in a unique choice of parameter space: negligible mixing (sin α ≲ O (10 −3 )) between the two CP-even scalars h, Hand heavy 4th generation quark and lepton masses m t ' ,m b' ≲ 400 GeV and m ν' , m τ' ≳ 900 GeV, respectively. Whether or not the 750 GeV γγ resonance is confirmed, interesting phenomenology emerges in q' – Higgs systems (q' = t', b'), that can be searched for at the LHC. For example, the heavy scalar states of the model, S=H, A, H + , may have BR(S→$-\atop{q'}$q') ∼O(1), giving rise to observable $-\atop{q'}$q' signals on resonance, followed by the flavor changing q' decays t'→uh (u =u, c) and/or b'→dh (d =d, s, b). This leads to rather distinct signatures, with or without charged leptons, of the form $-\atop{q'}$q'→(nj +mb +ℓW) S (j and b being light and b-quark jets, respectively), with n +m +ℓ =6–8 and unique kinematic features. These high jet-multiplicity signals appear to be very challenging and may need new search strategies for detection of such heavy chiral quarks. It is also shown that the flavor structure of the 4G2HDM can easily accommodate the interesting recent indications of a percent-level branching ratio in the lepton-flavor-violating (LFV) decay h →τμ of the 125 GeV Higgs, if it is experimentally confirmed.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

GHG Emissions Inventory Report for LvivTeploEnergo (LTE)

PNNL prepared the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory for LTE to help gain international funding for modernization requirements necessary to decarbonize LTE’s DH network. The inventory itself provides a comprehensive account of total greenhouse gas emissions from (a) LTE’s transportation (commuting and product transport), (b) purchased electricity (for water heating, heat production, and other uses), and (c) heat production for the DH network. The greenhouse gases analyzed in the inventory are Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and Nitrogen Oxide (NO x ). All data gathered for the inventory came directly from previous years of LTE data, with total emissions of each activity calculated by using emission factors from several internationally reputable sources (e.g., United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the ECLIPSE v6 dataset from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), the European Modeling and Evaluation Programme (EMEP), and the World Resources Institute (WRI)). This report further explains the methodology and justification for which scopes of emissions were included in the GHG emissions inventory spreadsheet and a description of references from which the emission factors were taken.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2024

Influence of Nb alloying on Nb recrystallization and the upper critical field of Nb 3 ⁢Sn

Nb 3 Sn conductors are important candidates for high-field magnets for particle accelerators, and they continue to be widely used for many laboratory and NMR magnets. However, the critical current density, J c , of present Nb 3 Sn conductors declines swiftly above 12-15 T. State-of-the-art Ta- and Ti-doped strands exhibit upper critical field, H c2 , values of ~ 24-26.5 T (4.2 K) and do not reach the FCC target J c , which serves as the present stretch target for Nb 3 Sn development. As recently demonstrated, to meet this goal requires enhanced vortex pinning but an independent and supplementary approach is to significantly enhance H c2 . In this study, we have arc-melted multiple Nb alloys with added Hf, Zr, Ta and Ti and drawn them successfully into monofilament wires to investigate the possibilities of H c2 enhancement through alloying. H c2 (T) was measured for all samples in fields up to 16 T and some up to 31 T. We have found that all alloys show good agreement with the standard Werthamer, Helfand, and Hohenberg (WHH) fitting procedure without the need to adjust the paramagnetic limitation parameter (α) and spin-orbit scattering parameter (λ so ). The evaluation of dH c2 /dT near T c , which is proportional to the electronic specific heat coefficient γ and the normal state resistivity ρn, allows a better understanding of the induced disorder introduced by alloying in the A15 phase. So far, we have observed that Hf alloying of pure Nb can enhance H c2 (0) by 3-4 T to ~28 T, while adding just 1 at. %Hf or Zr into a Nb4Ta base alloy can raise H c2 (0) to ~31 T. Very importantly we find that Hf and Zr raise the alloy recrystallization temperature above the usual A15 reaction temperature range of 650°C – 750°C, thus ensuring denser A15 phase nucleation in the Nb alloy grain boundaries, possibly leading to a more homogeneous A15 phase Sn content and refined A15 grain size. Furthermore, the potential for further advancements in Nb 3 Sn properties is explored in relation to the recrystallization of the Nb alloy and the factors controlling the upper critical field.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Superconductivity and magnetic and transport properties of single-crystalline CaK ( Fe 1 – x Cr x ) 4 As 4

Members of the CaK (Fe 1–x Cr x ) 4 As 4 series have been synthesized by high-temperature solution growth in single-crystalline form and characterized by x-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, and magnetic and transport measurements. The effects of Cr substitution on the superconducting and magnetic ground states of CaKFe 4 As 4 (T c = 35 K) have been studied. These measurements show that the superconducting transition temperature decreases monotonically and is finally suppressed below 1.8 K as x is increased from 0 to 0.038. For x-values greater than 0.012, signatures of a magnetic transition can be detected in magnetic measurements with the associated features in the transport measurements becoming detectable for x ≥ 0.038. The magnetic transition temperature increases in a roughly linear manner as Cr substitution increases. A temperature-composition (T – x) phase diagram is constructed, revealing a half-dome of superconductivity with the magnetic transition temperature, T*, appearing near 22 K for x ~ 0.017 and rising slowly up to 60 K for x ~ 0.077. The T – x phase diagrams for CaK (Fe 1–x T x ) 4 As 4 for T = Cr and Mn are essentially the same despite the nominally different band filling; this is in marked contrast to T = Co and Ni series for which the T – x diagrams scale by a factor of 2, consistent with the different changes in band filling Co and Ni would produce when replacing Fe. Superconductivity of CaK (Fe 1–x Cr x ) 4 As 4 is also studied as a function of magnetic field. A clear change in $H^{'}_{c2}$ (T)/T c , where $H^{'}_{c2}$ (T) is dH c2 (T)/dT, at x ~ 0.012 is observed and probably is related to a change of the Fermi surface due to magnetic order. Further, coherence length and the London penetration depths are also calculated based on H c1 and H c2 data. Both of them as a function of x show changes near x = 0.012, again consistent with Fermi surface changes associated with the magnetic ordering seen for higher x-values.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

Superconductivity and phase diagrams of CaK(Fe 1- x Mn x ) 4 As 4 single crystals

In order to study the effects of Mn substitution on the superconducting and magnetic ground state of CaKFe 4 As 4 (T c = 35 K), members of the CaK (Fe 1–x Mn x ) 4 As 4 series have been synthesized by high-temperature solution growth in single-crystalline form and characterized by elemental analysis, thermodynamic, and transport measurements. These measurements show that the superconducting transition temperature decreases monotonically and is finally suppressed below 1.8 K as x is increased from 0 to 0.036. For x values greater than 0.016, signatures of a magnetic transition can be detected in both thermodynamic and transport measurements in which kinklike features allow for the determination of the transition temperature T* that increases as Mn substitution increases. Here, a temperature-composition (T–x) phase diagram is constructed, revealing a half-dome of superconductivity with the magnetic transition temperature T* appearing near 26 K for x ~ 0.017 and rising slowly up to 33 K for x ~ 0.036. In addition to the creation of the T–x phase diagram for CaK(Fe 1–x Mn x ) 4 As 4 , specific-heat data are used to track the jump in specific heat at T c ; the CaK(Fe 1–x Mn x ) 4 As 4 data do not follow the scaling of ΔC p with $T$$^{3}_{c}$ as many of the other Fe-based superconducting systems do. These data suggest that, as magnetic pair breaking is present, the jump in C p for a given T c is reduced. Elastoresistivity coefficients 2m 66 and m 11 – m 12 as a function of temperature are also measured. 2m 66 and m 11 – m 12 are qualitatively similar to CaK(Fe 1–x Ni x ) 4 As 4 . This may indicate that the magnetic order in Mn-substituted system may be still the same as CaK(Fe 1–x Mn x ) 4 As 4 . Superconductivity of CaK(Fe 1–x Mn x ) 4 As 4 is also studied as a function of magnetic field. A clear change in H' c2 (T)/T c , where H' c2 (T) is dH' c2 (T)/dT, at x ~ 0.015 is observed and probably is related to change of the Fermi surface due to magnetic order. Coherence lengths and the London penetration depths are also calculated based on H c1 and H c2 data. Coherence lengths as the function of x also show the changes near x = 0.015, again consistent with Fermi-surface changes associated with the magnetic ordering seen for higher-x values.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

Structural and dynamic changes in P-Rex1 upon activation by PIP 3 and inhibition by IP 4

PIP 3 -dependent Rac exchanger 1 (P-Rex1) is abundantly expressed in neutrophils and plays central roles in chemotaxis and cancer metastasis by serving as a guanine-nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for Rac. The enzyme is synergistically activated by PIP 3 and heterotrimeric Gβγ subunits, but mechanistic details remain poorly understood. While investigating the regulation of P-Rex1 by PIP 3 , we discovered that Ins(1,3,4,5)P 4 (IP 4 ) inhibits P-Rex1 activity and induces large decreases in backbone dynamics in diverse regions of the protein. Cryo-electron microscopy analysis of the P-Rex1·IP 4 complex revealed a conformation wherein the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain occludes the active site of the Dbl homology (DH) domain. This configuration is stabilized by interactions between the first DEP domain (DEP1) and the DH domain and between the PH domain and a 4-helix bundle (4HB) subdomain that extends from the C-terminal domain of P-Rex1. Disruption of the DH–DEP1 interface in a DH/PH-DEP1 fragment enhanced activity and led to a more extended conformation in solution, whereas mutations that constrain the occluded conformation led to decreased GEF activity. Variants of full-length P-Rex1 in which the DH–DEP1 and PH–4HB interfaces were disturbed exhibited enhanced activity during chemokineinduced cell migration, confirming that the observed structure represents the autoinhibited state in living cells. Interactions with PIP 3 -containing liposomes led to disruption of these interfaces and increased dynamics protein-wide. Our results further suggest that inositol phosphates such as IP 4 help to inhibit basal P-Rex1 activity in neutrophils, similar to their inhibitory effects on phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

The first DEP domain of the RhoGEF P-Rex1 autoinhibits activity and contributes to membrane binding

Phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PIP 3 )-dependent Rac exchanger 1 (P-Rex1) catalyzes the exchange of GDP for GTP on Rac GTPases, thereby triggering changes in the actin cytoskeleton and in transcription. Its overexpression is highly correlated with the metastasis of certain cancers. P-Rex1 recruitment to the plasma membrane and its activity are regulated via interactions with heterotrimeric Gβγ subunits, PIP 3 , and protein kinase A (PKA). Deletion analysis has further shown that domains C-terminal to its catalytic Dbl homology (DH) domain confer autoinhibition. Among these, the first dishevelled, Egl-10, and pleckstrin domain (DEP1) remains to be structurally characterized. DEP1 also harbors the primary PKA phosphorylation site, suggesting that an improved understanding of this region could substantially increase our knowledge of P-Rex1 signaling and open the door to new selective chemotherapeutics. Here we show that the DEP1 domain alone can autoinhibit activity in context of the DH/PH-DEP1 fragment of P-Rex1 and interacts with the DH/PH domains in solution. The 3.1 Å crystal structure of DEP1 features a domain swap, similar to that observed previously in the Dvl2 DEP domain, involving an exposed basic loop that contains the PKA site. Using purified proteins, we show that although DEP1 phosphorylation has no effect on the activity or solution conformation of the DH/PH-DEP1 fragment, it inhibits binding of the DEP1 domain to liposomes containing phosphatidic acid. Thus, we propose that PKA phosphorylation of the DEP1 domain hampers P-Rex1 binding to negatively charged membranes in cells, freeing the DEP1 domain to associate with and inhibit the DH/PH module.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2014

Mixing in a liquid metal electrode

Fluid mixing has first-order importance for many engineering problems in mass transport, including design and optimization of liquid-phase energy storage devices. Liquid metal batteries are currently being commercialized as a promising and economically viable technology for large-scale energy storage on worldwide electrical grids. But because these batteries are entirely liquid, fluid flow and instabilities may affect battery robustness and performance. Here we present estimates of flow magnitude and ultrasound measurements of the flow in a realistic liquid metal electrode. We find that flow does substantially affect mass transport by altering the electrode mixing time. Above a critical electrical current density, the convective flow organizes and gains speed, which promotes transport and would yield improved battery efficiency. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.

Kelley, DH↗