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Results for “solid-state nanopores”

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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12 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

DNA Origami Incorporated into Solid-State Nanopores Enables Enhanced Sensitivity for Precise Analysis of Protein Translocations

The rapidly advancing field of nanotechnology is driving the development of precise sensing methods at the nanoscale, with solid-state nanopores emerging as promising tools for biomolecular sensing. Here, this study investigates the increased sensitivity of solid-state nanopores achieved by integrating DNA origami structures, leading to the improved analysis of protein translocations. Using holo human serum transferrin (holo-hSTf) as a model protein, we compared hybrid nanopores incorporating DNA origami with open solid-state nanopores. Results show a significant enhancement in holo-hSTf detection sensitivity with DNA origami integration, suggesting a unique role of DNA interactions beyond confinement. This approach holds potential for ultrasensitive protein detection in biosensing applications, offering advancements in biomedical research and diagnostic tool development for diseases with low-abundance protein biomarkers. Further exploration of origami designs and nanopore configurations promises even greater sensitivity and versatility in the detection of a wider range of proteins, paving the way for advanced biosensing technologies.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

A scalable solid-state nanoporous network with atomic-level interaction design for carbon dioxide capture

Carbon capture and sequestration reduces carbon dioxide emissions and is critical in accomplishing carbon neutrality targets. Here, we demonstrate new sustainable, solid-state, polyamine-appended, cyanuric acid–stabilized melamine nanoporous networks (MNNs) via dynamic combinatorial chemistry (DCC) at the kilogram scale toward effective and high-capacity carbon dioxide capture. Polyamine-appended MNNs reaction mechanisms with carbon dioxide were elucidated with double-level DCC where two-dimensional heteronuclear chemical shift correlation nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed to demonstrate the interatomic interactions. We distinguished ammonium carbamate pairs and a mix of ammonium carbamate and carbamic acid during carbon dioxide chemisorption. The coordination of polyamine and cyanuric acid modification endows MNNs with high adsorption capacity (1.82 millimoles per gram at 1 bar), fast adsorption time (less than 1 minute), low price, and extraordinary stability to cycling by flue gas. This work creates a general industrialization method toward carbon dioxide capture via DCC atomic-level design strategies.

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

Heterogeneous Multilayer Nanopores via Chemically Tuned Dielectric Breakdown for Single‐Molecule Sensing

Solid-state nanopores are powerful platforms for single-molecule sensing, yet their performance is often constrained by fabrication complexity, noise, and limited control over surface properties. Here we report a direct method to fabricate heterogeneous multilayer nanopores using chemically tuned controlled dielectric breakdown (CT-CDB). We integrate hBN, MoS 2 , or graphene atop a silicon nitride membrane to form five distinct bilayer and tri-layer architectures, with bare SiN x nanopore as a control. CT-CDB achieves pore formation reproducibly through material-stacks with high efficiency, good pore size control, and strong yield, validated by various characterizations. Transferrin protein translocation experiments, supported by simulations, reveal that multilayer configurations modulate protein conformations, ionic current blockade and dwell time distributions, reflecting combined effects of membrane type, interfacial chemistry, and local electric field gradients. A supervised machine learning framework is implemented to assist identifying multilayer structure effects embedded in signal signatures, with over 96% accuracy. This work presents a modular and scalable framework for functional nanopore engineering with complex structural integration, thereby expanding the potential of 2D materials in single-molecule sensing applications.

2D materials↗
DOE OSTI2021

Understanding Electrical Conduction and Nanopore Formation During Controlled Breakdown

Controlled breakdown has recently emerged as a highly appealing technique to fabricate solid-state nanopores for a wide range of biosensing applications. This technique relies on applying an electric field of approximately 0.4–1 V nm –1 across the membrane to induce a current, and eventually, breakdown of the dielectric. Although previous studies have performed controlled breakdown under a range of different conditions, the mechanism of conduction and breakdown has not been fully explored. Here, electrical conduction and nanopore formation in SiN x membranes during controlled breakdown is studied. It is demonstrated that for Si-rich SiN x , oxidation reactions that occur at the membrane-electrolyte interface limit conduction across the dielectric. However, for stoichiometric Si 3 N 4 the effect of oxidation reactions becomes relatively small and conduction is predominately limited by charge transport across the dielectric. Several important implications resulting from understanding this process are provided which will aid in further developing controlled breakdown in the coming years, particularly for extending this technique to integrate nanopores with on-chip nanostructures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Electrochemical-Mechanical Coupling Strongly Affects the Performance of Nanopore, Thin-Film, and Solid-State Batteries

Here, the present study focuses on the electrochemical-mechanical (ECM) coupling effects of a thin-film, solid-state battery with only stiff, ceramic materials, in contrast to prior investigations that focus on individual active material particles or aggregations of particles. We model the impacts of ECM couplings including stress-transport and stress-equilibrium potential on the full-cell performance and potential mechanical failure modes of a thin-film battery conformally deposited in a nanopore scaffold, which is an experimentally achievable device. Model results indicate electrode volume changes due to lithium insertion or removal, along with mechanical boundary conditions, result in stress gradients that alter the lithium-ion flux, reduce lithium concentration gradients, and improve cell rate capability. However, the high stress levels in the cell can also lead to mechanics-related failure such as the separation of cell layers. For the parameter set in this work, stress-transport coupling has a much greater influence on rate capability than stress-potential coupling. Optimization of thin-film batteries to harness the benefits of ECM coupling effects requires leveraging geometric design and material selection. The current work underscores the need for further theoretical and experimental investigation into ECM coupling effects in thin-film batteries to enhance their understanding and design optimization.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Phase field-volumetric lattice Boltzmann model of ion uptake in porous nuclear waste form materials under continuous flow

The flow field within the mesopores of sorbent particles plays a crucial role in radionuclide diffusion and ion uptake kinetics, thus, impacting the overall performance of porous nuclear waste form materials. To fundamentally understand the influence of microstructures and material properties on the radionuclide absorption and retention processes requires a coupled multi-physics model that considers the advection and diffusion within the flow field, the reaction at liquid-solid interfaces, and finally, the solid-state diffusion within a complex nanoporous medium. Here, this study employs the volumetric lattice Boltzmann method (VLBM) to accurately and efficiently calculate the steady state velocity field inside the mesopores of sorbent particles. The obtained velocity field is then utilized to calculate the advection of ions in the steady flow. A phase field (PF) model of ion uptake is used to describe the reaction occurring at the solid-liquid interface and diffusion inside the porous medium. The integrated PF-VLBM model is verified in terms of the mass conservation and numerical efficiency and validated qualitatively with experimental observation data. Then, it is applied to study the influence of thermodynamic and kinetic properties, as well as flow field conditions on the ion uptake kinetics. The numerical results demonstrate that the ion uptake kinetics in porous particles has three distinct stages, which is in agreement with the observations in continuous flow experiments. In the first stage, the kinetics is predominantly controlled by the flow field and ion diffusivity in the liquid phase. The kinetics in the second stage is primarily governed by ion diffusivity in the solid phase. In the third stage the system reaches a dynamic equilibrium with a net zero uptake flux at the interface. It is also found that porous structures significantly affect the efficiency and capacity of ion uptake. The simulation results can help to understand the physics behind the observed ion uptake kinetics in experiments and to facilitate the development of constitutive equations that can account for heterogeneous microstructures in engineering performance codes.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2025

Nanoporous Fe 2 O 3 and Soluble Fe(II) Intermediates Accelerate the Electrodeposition of Fe in NaOH(aq)

Electrochemical conversion of iron oxide to iron metal can enable low-cost batteries for long duration energy storage and zero-emissions ironmaking for steel. Iron oxides, such as hematite, can be electrochemically reduced to metallic iron in concentrated alkaline electrolytes at modest temperatures, but the relative influences of solid-state and dissolved intermediates at practical reaction rates remains unclear. Here, in this study, we prepare a homologous set of well-defined hematite particles to measure how the nanoscale morphology of oxides controls both their reactivity and apparent reduction mechanism in concentrated hydroxide. Correlated electron microscopy and rotating-ring-disk-electrode measurements revealed that nanoporous hematite and solid intermediates formed iron via a dissolution-redeposition pathway. In contrast, dense hematite particles directly formed iron metal via reactive fracture. While previous studies on iron electrowinning have primarily emphasized the role of particle diameter at the micron scale, these results demonstrate the importance of the dissolution-redeposition pathway to support rapid reaction rates and suggest that nanoscale porosity controls iron oxide reactivity at temperatures <100 °C. Therefore, iron-oxide-to-metal electrolyzers and fast-charging iron-air batteries supported by curtailed electricity can increase the rate of metal formation by accelerating fracture and dissolution in reactant oxides.

TEM↗
DOE OSTI2026

Surface-Functionalized, Two-Dimensional Polymer Electrochromic Layers as Ultrafast, Multi-State Infrared Optical Gates

Electrochromic devices have widespread application potential, but the currently available switching speeds limit broad real-world implementation of this technology. Here, we report surface-engineered two-dimensional polymers with ionophilic pores that offer unprecedented switching speeds in solid-state, two-terminal, electrochromic devices. In particular, we demonstrate that a crystalline donor–acceptor 2DP functionalized with ethylene glycol oligomers exhibits multistate infrared absorption that is 4× faster (t c = 320 ms) with 3× coloration efficiency (491 cm 2 C –1 ) compared to an alkyl functionalized 2DP constructed from the same chromophores. The functionalized nanoporous surfaces enable rapid switching in these materials under either oxidative or reductive conditions, allowing us to access a range of robust, stable optical responses in a single electrochromic layer. These attributes led us to leverage surface-functionalized 2DPs as multistate infrared logic gates. Collectively, this work demonstrates that surface engineering of nanoporous crystalline lattices is a promising approach to co-optimize the electronic and ionic conductivities required to achieve rapidly switchable electrochromic layers. Beyond speed and efficiency, the demonstration of multistate infrared characteristics shows that electrochromic frameworks are useful in integrated optoelectronic circuits. This positions surface-engineered 2DPs as improved electrochromic coatings and a new material platform for photonic information processing and adaptive devices.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Design nanoporous metal thin films via solid state interfacial dealloying

Thin-film solid-state interfacial dealloying (thin-film SSID) is an emerging technique to design nanoarchitecture thin films. The resulting controllable 3D bicontinuous nanostructure is promising for a range of applications including catalysis, sensing, and energy storage. Using a multiscale microscopy approach, we combine X-ray and electron nano-tomography to demonstrate that besides dense bicontinuous nanocomposites, thin-film SSID can create a very fine (5–15 nm) nanoporous structure. Not only is such a fine feature among one of the finest fabrications by metal-agent dealloying, but a multilayer thin-film design enables creating nanoporous films on a wider range of substrates for functional applications. Through multimodal synchrotron diffraction and spectroscopy analysis with which the materials’ chemical and structural evolution in this novel approach is characterized in details, we further deduce that the contribution of change in entropy should be considered to explain the phase evolution in metal-agent dealloying, in addition to the commonly used enthalpy term in prior studies. Here, the discussion is an important step leading towards better explaining the underlying design principles for controllable 3D nanoarchitecture, as well as exploring a wider range of elemental and substrate selections for new applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Reversing the Irreversible: Thermodynamic Stabilization of LiAlH 4 Nanoconfined Within a Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Host

A general problem when designing functional nanomaterials for energy storage is the lack of control over the stability and reactivity of metastable phases. Using the high-capacity hydrogen storage candidate LiAlH4 as an exemplar, we demonstrate an alternative approach to the thermodynamic stabilization of metastable metal hydrides by coordination to nitrogen binding sites within the nanopores of N-doped CMK-3 carbon (NCMK-3). The resulting LiAlH 4 @NCMK-3 material releases H 2 at temperatures as low as 126 °C with full decomposition below 240 °C, bypassing the usual Li 3 AlH 6 intermediate observed in bulk. Moreover, >80% of LiAlH 4 can be regenerated under 100 MPa H 2 , a feat previously thought to be impossible. Nitrogen sites are critical to these improvements, as no reversibility is observed with undoped CMK-3. Density functional theory predicts a drastically reduced Al–H bond dissociation energy and supports the observed change in the reaction pathway. Finally, the calculations also provide a rationale for the solid-state reversibility, which derives from the combined effects of nanoconfinement, Li adatom formation, and charge redistribution between the metal hydride and the host.

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

Porosity Development at Li-Rich Layered Cathodes in All-Solid-State Battery during In Situ Delithiation

Structural evolutions are crucial for determining the performance of high-voltage lithium, manganese-rich layered cathodes. Moreover, interface between electrode and electrolyte plays a critical role in governing ionic transfer in all-solid-state batteries. In this work, we unveil two different types of porous structure in Li 1.2 Ni 0.2 Mn 0.6 O 2 cathode with LiPON solid-state electrolyte. Na-nopores are found near the cathode/electrolyte interface at pristine state, where cation mixing, phase transformation, oxygen loss and Mn reduction are also found. In situ Li + extraction induces the evolution of nanovoids, initially formed near the inter-face then propagated into the bulk. Despite the development of nanovoids, layered structure is conserved, suggesting the nature of nanopores and nanovoids are different and their impact would be divergent. This work demonstrates the intrinsic interfacial layer, as well as the dynamic scenario of nanovoid formation inside high-capacity layered cathode, which help understanding the performance fading in cathodes and offer insights into the all-solid-state battery design.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗