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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

Design Insights for Tuning the Electrocatalytic Activity of Perovskite Oxides for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Rechargeable metal-air batteries and water electrolyzers based on aqueous alkaline electrolytes hold the potential to be sustainable solutions to address the challenge of storing large amounts of electrical energy generated from solar and wind resources. For these batteries and electrolyzers to be economically viable, it is essential to have efficient, durable, and inexpensive electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction. In this article, we describe new insights for predicting and tuning the activity of inexpensive transition metal oxides for designing efficient and inexpensive electrocatalysts. We have focused on understanding the factors determining the electrocatalytic activity for oxygen evolution in a strong alkaline medium. To this end, we have conducted a systematic investigation of nanophase calcium-doped lanthanum cobalt manganese oxide, an example of a mixed metal oxide that can be tuned for its electrocatalytic activity by varying the transition metal composition. Using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electrochemical polarization experiments, and analysis of mechanisms, we have identified the key determinants of electrocatalytic activity. We have found that the Tafel slopes are determined by the oxidation states and the bond energy of the surface intermediates of Mn-OH and Co-OH bonds while the catalytic activity increased with the average d-electron occupancy of the sigma* orbital of the M-OH bond. We anticipate that such understanding will be very useful in predicting the behavior of other transition metal oxide catalysts.

ORR↗

Tuning the Surface Structure and Optical Properties of CdSe Clusters Using Coordination Chemistry

A series of nonstoichiometric CdSe clusters with lowest energy electronic absorptions between 409 and 420 nm has been prepared from cadmium 1-naphthoate, 2-naphthoate, 4-thiomethyl-1-naphthaote, and 1-naphthalene thiolate complexes and diphenylphosphine selenide (DPPSe). Pair distribution function analysis of X-ray diffraction data, ligand exchange experiments, and NMR molecular weight analyses suggest the nanocrystal core changes minimally among these clusters despite significant changes to their absorption and luminescence spectra. Photoluminescence excitation spectra obtained at 77 K reveal an energy transfer process between the surface-trapped excited state and the naphthalene-containing ligands that leads to ligand phosphorescence. A Dexter energy transfer mechanism is proposed to explain the observation of ligand phosphorescence on excitation of the cluster. These compounds demonstrate that cluster absorption and trap luminescence can be controlled with surface coordination chemistry.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Tuning the Solid Electrolyte Interphase for Selective Li‐ and Na‐Ion Storage in Hard Carbon

Solid‐electrolyte interphase (SEI) films with controllable properties are highly desirable for improving battery performance. In this paper, a combined experimental and theoretical approach is used to study SEI films formed on hard carbon in Li‐ and Na‐ion batteries. It is shown that a stable SEI layer can be designed by precycling an electrode in a desired Li‐ or Na‐based electrolyte, and that ionic transport can be kinetically controlled. Selective Li‐ and Na‐based SEI membranes are produced using Li‐ or Na‐based electrolytes, respectively. The Na‐based SEI allows easy transport of Li ions, while the Li‐based SEI shuts off Na‐ion transport. Na‐ion storage can be manipulated by tuning the SEI layer with film‐forming electrolyte additives, or by preforming an SEI layer on the electrode surface. The Na specific capacity can be controlled to < 25 mAh g −1 ; ≈ 1/10 of the normal capacity (250 mAh g −1 ). Unusual selective/preferential transport of Li ions is demonstrated by preforming an SEI layer on the electrode surface and corroborated with a mixed electrolyte. This work may provide new guidance for preparing good ion‐selective conductors using electrochemical approaches.

Soto, Fernando A.↗

Investigation of a Solid-State Tuning Behavior in Lithium Niobate

Electric field-based frequency tuning of acoustic resonators at the material level provides an enabling technology for building complex tunable filters. Tunable acoustic resonators were fabricated in thin plates (h/λ ~ 0.05) of X-cut lithium niobate (90°, 90°, ψ = 170°). Lithium niobate is known for its large electromechanical coupling (SH: K 2 40%) and thus applicability for low-insertion loss and wideband filter applications. We demonstrate the effect of a DC bias to shift the resonant frequency by ~0.4% by directly tuning the resonator material. The mechanism is based on the nonlinearities that exist in the piezoelectric properties of lithium niobate. Devices centered at 332 MHz achieved frequency tuning of 12 kHz/V through application of a DC bias.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Tuning the electronic structure of SrTiO{sub 3}/SrFeO{sub 3−x} superlattices via composition and vacancy control

Using density functional theory-based calculations, we explore the effects of oxygen vacancies and epitaxial layering on the atomic, magnetic, and electronic structure of (SrTiO{sub 3}){sub n}(SrFeO{sub 3−x}){sub 1} superlattices. While structures without oxygen vacancies (x = 0) possess small or non-existent band gaps and ferromagnetic ordering in their iron layers, those with large vacancy concentrations (x = 0.5) have much larger gaps and antiferromagnetic ordering. Though the computed gaps depend numerically on the delicate energetic balance of vacancy ordering and on the value of Hubbard U{sub eff} used in the calculations, we demonstrate that changes in layering can tune the band gaps of these superlattices below that of SrTiO{sub 3} (3.2 eV) by raising their valence band maxima. This suggests the possibility that these superlattices could absorb in the solar spectrum, and could serve as water-splitting photocatalysts.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Modulated Synthesis of Metal‐Organic Frameworks through Tuning of the Initial Oxidation State of the Metal

Modulated solvothermal synthesis and other alterations of synthetic conditions have been used to control metal‐organic framework (MOF) crystallinity, porosity, and other properties. However, so far these changes have mostly been limited to changes in solvent, pH, or modulating acid type or concentration. In this work, we introduce a new method for the tuning of MOF synthesis: modulation through alteration of the metal source's initial oxidation state. By choosing a metal source that should be reduced or oxidized at high temperature in the solvent, metal concentration can be started at zero for initially insoluble starting materials and then increased as the metal reacts with the solvent, slowing and altering crystallization compared to standard MOF solvothermal synthesis. This concept is demonstrated through the synthesis of PCN‐47, PCN‐48, and PCN‐49, MOFs with distinct structures and porosities synthesized from the same metal and ligand with the metal initially in different oxidation states.

Bosch, Mathieu↗

Thermoelectric Enhancement in PbTe with K or Na codoping from tuning the interaction of the light- and heavy-hole valence bands

The effect of K and K-Na substitution for Pb atoms in the rocksalt lattice of PbTe was investigated to test a hypothesis for development of resonant states in the valence band that may enhance the thermoelectric power. We combined high-temperature Hall-effect, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity measurements to show that K-Na codoping do not form resonance states but can control the energy difference of the maxima of the two primary valence subbands in PbTe. This leads to an enhanced interband interaction with rising temperature and a significant rise in the thermoelectric figure of merit of p -type PbTe. The experimental data can be explained by a combination of a single- and two-band models for the valence band of PbTe depending on hole density that varies in the range of 1–15x10 19 cm -3 .

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Tuning of Nacelle Feedback Gains for Floating Wind Turbine Controllers Using a Two-DOF Model

Designing a collective blade pitch controller for floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) poses unique challenges due to the interaction of the controller with the dynamics of the platform. The controller must also handle the competing objectives of power production performance and fatigue load management. Existing solutions either detune the controller with the result of slowed response, make use of complicated tuning methods, or incorporate a nacelle velocity feedback gain. With the goal of developing a simple control tuning method for the general FOWT researcher that is easily extensible to a wide array of turbine and hull configurations, this last idea is built upon by proposing a simple tuning strategy for the feedback gain. This strategy uses a two degree-of-freedom (DoF) turbine model that considers tower-top fore-aft and rotor angular displacements. For evaluation, the nacelle velocity term is added to an existing gain scheduled proportional-integral controller as a proportional gain. The modified controller is then compared to baseline land-based and detuned controllers on an example system for several load cases. First-pass results are favorable, demonstrating how researchers can use the proposed tuning method to efficiently schedule gains for adequate controller performance as they investigate new FOWT configurations.

49 EE - Wind and Water Power Program - Wind (EE-4W↗

Global tuning of hadronic interaction models with accelerator-based and astroparticle data

In high-energy and astroparticle physics, event generators play an essential role, even in the simplest data analyses. As analysis techniques become more sophisticated, e.g. based on deep neural networks, their correct description of the observed event characteristics becomes even more important. Physical processes occurring in hadronic collisions are simulated within a Monte Carlo framework. A major challenge is the modeling of hadron dynamics at low momentum transfer, which includes the initial and final phases of every hadronic collision. QCD-inspired phenomenological models used for these phases cannot guarantee completeness or correctness over the full phase space. These models usually include parameters which must be tuned to suitable experimental data. Until now, event generators have been developed and tuned mainly on the basis of data from high-energy physics experiments at accelerators. The wealth of data available from the latest generation of astroparticle experiments has not yet been fully exploited, and in many cases is not satisfactorily described. Both kinds of data sets are complementary as astroparticle experiments provide sensitivity especially to hadrons produced nearly parallel to the collision axis and cover center-of-mass energies up to several hundred TeV, well beyond those reached at colliders so far. In this report, we provide an overview of state-of-the-art event generators and their tuning, including the most relevant inputs from high-energy accelerator and astroparticle experiments. We present a road map that shows, for the first time, how the unified tuning of event generators with accelerator-based and astroparticle data can be performed.

Albrecht, J. [Ruhr U., Bochum, RAPP Ctr.; Ruhr U.,↗