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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 OSTI2023

Position-specific carbon isotopes of Murchison amino acids elucidate extraterrestrial abiotic organic synthesis networks

The Murchison meteorite is a well-studied carbonaceous chondrite with relatively high concentrations of amino acids thought to be endogenous to the meteorite, in part because they are characterized by carbon isotope (δ 13 C) values higher than those typical of terrestrial amino acids. Past studies have proposed that extraterrestrial amino acids in the Murchison meteorite could have formed by Strecker synthesis (for α-amino acids), Michael addition (for β-amino acids), or reductive amination, but a lack of constraints have prevented confident discrimination among these possibilities, or assignment of specific formation pathways to each of several specific amino acids. Position-specific carbon isotope analysis differentiates amongst these mechanisms by relating molecular sites to isotopically distinct carbon sources and by constraining isotope effects associated with elementary chemical reactions. Prior measurements of the position-specific carbon isotopic composition of α-alanine from the Murchison CM chondrite demonstrated that alanine’s high δ 13 C VPDB value is attributable to the amine carbon (δ 13 C VPDB = +142 ± 20‰), consistent with Strecker synthesis drawing on 13 C-rich carbonyl groups in precursors (Chimiak et al., 2021). Here, we measured the δ 13 C composition of fragment ions generated by electron impact ionization of derivatized α-alanine, β-alanine, and aspartic acid from Murchison via gas chromatography-Fourier transform mass spectrometry. α-Alanine’s amine carbon yielded δ 13 C VPDB = +109 ± 21‰, which is consistent with the previously measured value and with formation from 13 C-rich precursors. β-Alanine’s amine carbon presents a lower δ 13 C VPDB = +33 ± 24‰, which supports formation from 13 C-rich precursors but potentially via a Michael addition mechanism rather than Strecker synthesis. Aspartic acid’s amine carbon has δ 13 C VPDB = -14 ± 5‰, suggesting synthesis from precursors distinct from those that generated the alanine isomers. Further, these measurements indicate that Murchison amino acids are a mixture of compounds made from different synthesis mechanisms, though some subsets likely drew on the same substrates; this conclusion highlights the complexity of extraterrestrial organic synthesis networks and the potential of emerging methods of isotope ratio analysis to elucidate the details of those networks.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Noble Gas Thermochronology of Extraterrestrial Materials

Rocks from extraterrestrial bodies in the Solar System are influenced by thermal processes occurring within planetary interiors and on their surfaces. These range from the extremely hot and brief, in the case of impact events, to the comparatively cool and protracted, in the case of solar irradiation of rocks residing in regoliths for millions to billions of years. Noble gas thermochronology has been applied to meteorites and extraterrestrial materials returned by space missions and has enabled us to decipher the histories of these materials and thereby understand fundamental aspects of the evolution of terrestrial planetary bodies, including the Moon, Mars, and asteroids.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Focused‐beam X‐ray fluorescence and diffraction microtomographies for mineralogical and chemical characterization of unsectioned extraterrestrial samples

Abstract This study describes the application of new synchrotron X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) and diffraction (XRD) microtomographies for the 3‐D visualization of chemical and mineralogical variations in unsectioned extraterrestrial samples. These improved methods have been applied to three compositionally diverse chondritic meteorite samples that were between 300 and 400 μm in diameter, including samples prepared from fragments of the CR2 chondrite LaPaz Icefield (LAP) 02342, H5 chondrite MacAlpine Hills (MAC) 88203, and the CM2 chondrite Murchison. The synchrotron‐based XRF and XRD tomographies used are focused‐beam techniques that measure the intensities of fluorescent and diffracted X‐rays in a sample simultaneously during irradiation by a high‐energy microfocused incident X‐ray beam. Measured sinograms of the emitted and diffracted intensities were then tomographically reconstructed to generate 2‐D slices of XRF and XRD intensity through the sample, with reconstructed pixel resolution of 1–2 μm, defined by the resolution of the focused incident X‐ray beam. For sample LAP 02342, primary mineral phases that were visualized in reconstructed slices using these techniques included isolated grains of α‐Fe, orthopyroxene, and olivine. For our sample of MAC 88203, XRF/XRD tomography allowed visualization of forsteritic olivine as a primary mineral phase, a vitrified fusion crust at the sample surface, identification of localized Cr‐rich spinels at spatial resolutions of several micrometers, and imaging of a plagioclase‐rich glassy matrix. In the sample of Murchison, major identifiable phases include clinoenstatite‐ and olivine‐rich chondrules, variable serpentine matrix minerals and small Cr‐rich spinels. Most notable in the tomographic analysis of Murchison is the ability to quantitatively distinguish and visualize the complex mixture of serpentine‐group minerals and associated tochilinite–cronstedtite intergrowths. These methods provide new opportunities for spatially resolved characterization of sample texture, mineralogy, crystal structure, and chemical state in unsectioned samples. This provides researchers an ability to characterize such samples internally with minimal disruption of sample micro‐structures and chemistry, possibly without the need for sample extraction from some types of sampling and capture media.

Geochemistry & Geophysics↗
DOE OSTI2021

Prediction of Leakage Current and Depletion Voltage in Silicon Detectors Under Extraterrestrial Radiation Conditions

Silicon detection is a mature technology for registering the passage of charged particles. At the same time it continues to evolve toward increasing radiation tolerance as well as precision and adaptability. For these reasons it is likely to remain a critical element of detection of systems associated with extraterrestrial exploration. Silicon sensor leakage current and depletion voltage depend on the integrated fluence received by the sensor and on its thermal history during and after the irradiation process. For minimal assumptions on shielding and hence on the particle energy spectrum, and using published data on Martian ground temperature, we predict the leakage current density and the depletion voltage, as a function of time, of silicon sensors in transit to and deployed continuously on the Mars surface for a duration of up to 28 Earth-years, for several sensor geometries and a worst-case temperature scenario.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2021

A molecular beam and computational study on the barrierless gas phase formation of (iso)quinoline in low temperature extraterrestrial environments

Despite remarkable progress toward the understanding of the formation pathways leading to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in combustion systems and in deep space, the complex reaction pathways leading to nitrogen-substituted PAHs (NPAHs) at low temperatures of molecular clouds and hydrocarbon-rich, nitrogen-containing atmospheres of planets and their moons like Titan have remained largely obscure. Here, we demonstrate through laboratory experiments and computations that the simplest prototype of NPAHs – quinoline and isoquinoline (C 9 H 7 N) – can be synthesized via rapid and de-facto barrier-less reactions involving o-, m- and p-pyridinyl radicals (C 5 H 4 N˙) with vinylacetylene (C 4 H 4 ) under low-temperature conditions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Biogeochemical Characteristics of Earth's Volcanic Permafrost: An Analog of Extraterrestrial Environments

This article describes a study of frozen volcanic deposits collected from volcanoes Tolbachik and Bezymianny on the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, and Deception Island volcano, Antarctica. In addition, we studied suprasnow ash layers deposited after the 2007 eruptions of volcanoes Shiveluch and Bezymianny on Kamchatka. The main objectives were to characterize the presence and survivability of thermophilic microorganisms in perennially frozen volcanic deposits. As opposed to permafrost from the polar regions, viable thermophiles were detected in volcanic permafrost by cultivation, microscopy, and sequencing. In the permafrost of Tolbachik volcano, we observed methane formation by both psychrophilic and thermophilic methanogenic archaea, while at 37°C, methane production was noticeably lower. Thermophilic bacteria isolated from volcanic permafrost from the Deception Island were 99.93% related to Geobacillus stearothermophilus. Furthermore, our data showed biological sulfur reduction to sulfide at 85°C and even at 130°C, where hyperthermophilic archaea of the genus Thermoproteus were registered. Sequences of hyperthermophilic bacteria of the genus Caldicellulosiruptor were discovered in clone libraries from fresh volcanic ash deposited on snow. Microorganisms found in volcanic terrestrial permafrost may serve as a model for the alien inhabitants of Mars, a cryogenic planet with numerous volcanoes. Thermophiles and hyperthermophiles and their metabolic processes represent a guideline for the future exploration missions on Mars.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

The Utility of Infrasound in Global Monitoring of Extraterrestrial Impacts: A Case Study of the 2008 July 23 Tajikistan Bolide

Abstract Among the various observational techniques used for the detection of large bolides on a global scale is a low-frequency sound known as infrasound. Infrasound, which is also one of the four sensing modalities used by the International Monitoring System, offers continuous global monitoring and can be leveraged for planetary defense. Infrasonic records can provide an additional dimension for event characterization and a distinct perspective that might not be available through any other observational method. This paper describes the infrasonic detection and characterization of the bolide that disintegrated over Tajikistan on 2008 July 23. This event was detected by two infrasound stations at distances of 1530 and 2130 km. Propagation paths to one of the stations were not predicted by the model, despite being clearly detected. The presence of the signal is attributed to the acoustic energy being trapped in a weak but leaky stratospheric AtmoSOFAR channel. The infrasound signal analysis indicates that the shock originated at the point of the main breakup at an altitude of 35 km. The primary mode of the shock production of the signal detected at the two stations was a spherical blast resulting from the main gross fragmentation episode. The energy estimate, based on the signal period, is 0.17–0.51 kt of TNT equivalent, suggesting a mass of 6.6–23.5 tons. The corresponding object radius, assuming the chondritic origin, was 0.78–1.18 m.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

The UCLA Cosmochemistry Database

Abstract The UCLA Cosmochemistry Database was initiated as part of a data-rescue and -storage project aimed at archiving a variety of cosmochemical data acquired at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The data collection includes elemental compositions of extraterrestrial materials analyzed by UCLA cosmochemists over the last five decades. The analytical techniques include atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and neutron activation analysis (NAA) at UCLA. The data collection is stored on the Astromaterials Data System (Astromat). We provide both interactive tables and downloadable datasheets for users to access all data. The UCLA Cosmochemistry Database archives cosmochemical data that are essential tools for increasing our understanding of the nature and origin of extraterrestrial materials. Future studies can reference the data collection in the examination, analysis, and classification of newly acquired extraterrestrial samples.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗
DOE OSTI2020

XANES spectroscopy of sulfides stable under reducing conditions

X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy is a powerful technique to quantitatively investigate sulfur speciation in geologically complex materials such as minerals, glasses, soils, organic compounds, industrial slags, and extraterrestrial materials. This technique allows non-destructive investigation of the coordination chemistry and oxidation state of sulfur species ranging from sulfide (2–oxidation state) to sulfate (6+ oxidation state). Each sulfur species has a unique spectral shape with a characteristic K-edge representing the s → p and d hybridization photoelectron transitions. As such, sulfur speciation is used to measure the oxidation state of samples by comparing the overall XANES spectra to that of reference compounds. Although many S XANES spectral standards exist for terrestrial applications under oxidized conditions, new sulfide standards are needed to investigate reduced (oxygen fugacity, f O 2 , below IW) silicate systems relevant for studies of extraterrestrial materials and systems. Sulfides found in certain meteorites (e.g., enstatite chondrites and aubrites) and predicted to exist on Mercury, such as CaS (oldhamite), MgS (niningerite), and FeCr 2 S 4 (daubréelite), are stable at f O 2 below IW-3 but rapidly oxidize to sulfate and/or produce sulfurous gases under terrestrial surface conditions. XANES spectra of these compounds collected to date have been of variable quality, possibly due to the unstable nature of certain sulfides under typical (e.g., oxidizing) laboratory conditions. A new set of compounds was prepared for this study and their XANES spectra are analyzed for comparison with potential extraterrestrial analogs. S K -edge XANES spectra were collected at Argonne National Lab for FeS (troilite), MnS (alabandite), CaS (oldhamite), MgS (niningerite), Ni 1–x S, NiS 2 , CaSO 4 (anhydrite), MgSO 4 , FeSO 4 , Fe 2 (SO 4 ) 3 , FeCr 2 S 4 (daubréelite), Na 2 S, Al 2 S 3 , Ni 7 S 6 , and Ni 3 S 2 ; the latter five were analyzed for the first time using XANES. These standards expand upon the existing S XANES end-member libraries at a higher spectral resolution (0.25 eV steps) near the S K -edge. Processed spectra, those that have been normalized and “flattened,” are compared to quantify uncertainties due to data processing methods. Future investigations that require well-characterized sulfide standards, such as the ones presented here, may have important implications for understanding sulfur speciation in reduced silicate glasses and minerals with applications for the early Earth, Moon, Mercury, and enstatite chondrites.

Anzures, Brendan A.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Characterization of Potential Micrometeorites by Synchrotron Analysis

Micrometeorites (MMs) are small particles that account for most of the extraterrestrial material deposited on Earth. Synchrotron X-ray fluorescence and diffraction allowed for chemical and mineral characterization to distinguish MM from atmospheric particulate. The relative components of iron, nickel, and other elements were considered in the identification of ferrous MM while high amounts of titanium were considered an indication that the particles were of atmospheric origin. Out of 100 samples collected by high school students and teachers, eight were taken to a synchrotron for analysis. Of those eight, three exhibited extraterrestrial compositions. X-ray absorption near-edge structure analysis revealed that the same three samples contained sulfide, the main sulfur form constituent in MM. X-ray microdiffraction analysis showed the presence of the minerals pentlandite and forsterite. Collectively, these results support the extraterrestrial nature of the three particles.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

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

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

flexible PSCs↗
DOE OSTI2026

Triple oxygen and hydrogen stable isotope composition of hydroxyl water in Orgueil (CI-type) and Tagish Lake (C2-type) carbonaceous chondrites

The primitive carbonaceous chondrites are of interest to cosmochemical science because they contain relatively large amounts of ‘water’ (H 2 O and/or OH – ) within phyllosilicate minerals. This water is evidence for the accretion of ices by their parent planetesimals, and thus represents an archive of the isotopic compositions of H 2 O in the protoplanetary environments. Here, in this study, we used thermogravimetry-enabled laser spectroscopy (TGA-IRIS) analyses of the Orgueil and Tagish Lake meteorites to make δ 2 H, δ 18 O, and Δ′ 17 O measurements of the H 2 O and OH – contained in the different hydrous minerals that comprise each meteorite. In Orgueil, we measured mass-weighted averages of OH – in the saponite and serpentine phyllosilicate matrix to be δ 2 H = 192 ‰, δ 18 O = 1.5 ‰, which are unquestionably of extraterrestrial origin with Δ′ 17 O = 1.0 ‰. For Tagish Lake, analogous values of OH– in the saponite and serpentine phyllosilicate matrix are δ 2 H = 704 ‰, δ 18 O = 11.3 ‰, and are similarly unambiguously extraterrestrial with Δ′ 17 O = 0.82 ‰. We estimate that the parent H 2 O involved in aqueous alteration of Orgueil had δ 18 O value ≥ +23 ‰. In Orgueil, we interpret the phyllosilicate petrographic relationships, and the δ 18 O values of OH – in saponite and serpentine to indicate that saponite formed first, at a lower temperature by 35 to 53 °C than serpentine. This suggests that the Orgueil parent body experienced increasing temperature during the phase of active aqueous alteration (prograde) which set the δ 18 O OH values of the serpentine and saponite. In the case of Tagish Lake, serpentine formed at a lower temperature by 32 to 60 °C than saponite, for the simplest case with constant δ 18 O H2O values. If serpentine formed first, followed by saponite formation at 32 to 60 °C °C higher temperature, this suggests that Tagish Lake sample TL1 underwent prograde aqueous alteration as the parent body heated up. We find evidence that the parent H 2 O for Orgueil, Tagish Lake sample TL1, and Murchison (based on data from a previous study) may have had Δ′ 17 O values of >0.64 ‰.

Aqueous alteration↗
DOE OSTI2024

Low-temperature formation of pyridine and (iso)quinoline via neutral–neutral reactions

Aromatic molecules represent fundamental building blocks in prebiotic chemistry and are contemplated as vital precursors to DNA and RNA nitrogen bases. However, despite the identification of some 300 molecules in extraterrestrial environments, the pathways to pyridine (C 5 H 5 N), pyridinyl (C 5 H 4 N•), and (iso)quinoline (C 9 H 7 N) – the simplest represen-tative of mono and bicyclic aromatic molecule carrying nitrogen – are elusive. Here, we afford compelling evidence on the gas-phase formation of methylene amidogen (H 2 CN•) and cyanomethyl (H 2 CCN•) radicals via molecular beam studies and electronic structure calcula-tions. The modeling of the chemistries of Taurus Molecular Cloud (TMC-1) and Titan’s atmosphere contemplates a complex chain of reactions synthesizing pyridine, pyridinyl, and (iso)quinoline from H 2 CN• and H 2 CCN• at levels of up to 75%. Furthermore, this study affords unique entry points to precursors of DNA and RNA nitrogen bases in hydrocarbon-rich extraterrestrial environments thus changing the way we think about the origin of prebiotic molecules in our Galaxy.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Exploring the chemical dynamics of phenanthrene (C 14 H 10 ) formation via the bimolecular gas-phase reaction of the phenylethynyl radical (C 6 H 5 CC) with benzene (C 6 H 6 )

The exploration of the fundamental formation mechanisms of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is crucial for the understanding of molecular mass growth processes leading to two- and three-dimensional carbonaceous nanostructures (nanosheets, graphenes, nanotubes, buckyballs) in extraterrestrial environments (circumstellar envelopes, planetary nebulae, molecular clouds) and combustion systems. While key studies have been conducted exploiting traditional, high-temperature mechanisms such as the hydrogen abstraction–acetylene addition (HACA) and phenyl addition–dehydrocyclization (PAC) pathways, the complexity of extreme environments highlights the necessity of investigating chemically diverse mass growth reaction mechanisms leading to PAHs. Employing the crossed molecular beams technique coupled with electronic structure calculations, we report on the gas-phase synthesis of phenanthrene (C 14 H 10 )—a three-ring, 14π benzenoid PAH—via a phenylethynyl addition–cyclization–aromatization mechanism, featuring bimolecular reactions of the phenylethynyl radical (C 6 H 5 CC, X 2 A 1 ) with benzene (C 6 H 6 ) under single collision conditions. The dynamics involve a phenylethynyl radical addition to benzene without entrance barrier leading eventually to phenanthrene via indirect scattering dynamics through C 14 H 11 intermediates. The barrierless nature of reaction allows rapid access to phenanthrene in low-temperature environments such as cold molecular clouds which can reach temperatures as low as 10 K. Furthermore, this mechanism constitutes a unique, low-temperature framework for the formation of PAHs as building blocks in molecular mass growth processes to carbonaceous nanostructures in extraterrestrial environments thus affording critical insight into the low-temperature hydrocarbon chemistry in our universe.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2026

SPRUCE: Peat Core Sample Collection Metadata, Marcell Experimental Forest, Minnesota, August 2024

This data set contains metadata associated with peat core samples collected from the Spruce and Peatland Responses Under Changing Environments (SPRUCE) experiment in August 2024. This sample metadata contains no analytical results and is a reference for analytical datasets. To ensure accessibility and discoverability, each sample was assigned an International Generic Sample Number (IGSN), a persistent identifier, using System for Earth and Extraterrestrial Sample Registration (SESAR). These samples were used for downstream analysis by multiple teams of researchers the results of which will be reported separately. This dataset contains one data file in comma separate (.csv) format. Additional metadata are provided: one data dictionary and a file-level metadata file in comma separate (.csv) format and a user guide in PDF (*.pdf) format. An aliquot of most samples is stored at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and may be available for further analysis. Access this collection event on SESAR https://doi.org/10.58052/IEJ9B00VQ. To inquire about obtaining archived samples for analysis, reach out using the Contact Sample Owner form located on the bottom of the landing page in SESAR. Note: Only dried and ground material from C Cores are available for new analysis.

Birkebak, Joshua [ORNL] (ORCID:0009000955611494)↗