Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “multifunction cell”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 199 records · Page 11
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2013

Nanostructured columnar heterostructures of TiO{sub 2} and Cu{sub 2}O enabled by a thin-film self-assembly approach: Potential for photovoltaics

Graphical abstract: Display Omitted Highlights: ► Material self-assembly in phase-separated oxides is exploited. ► Three-dimensionally nanostructured epitaxial films are grown using sputtering. ► Films are composed of well-ordered oriented nanopillars of n-type TiO{sub 2} and p-type Cu{sub 2}O. ► Observed interfaces at adjacent TiO{sub 2}–Cu{sub 2}O columns are nearly atomically distinct. ► Absorption profile of the composite film captures a wide range of the solar spectrum. -- Abstract: Significant efforts are being devoted to the development of multifunctional thin-film heterostructures and nanostructured material architectures for components with novel applications of superconductivity, multiferroicity, solar photocatalysis and energy conversion. In particular, nanostructured assemblies with well-defined geometrical shapes have emerged as possible high efficiency and economically viable alternatives to planar photovoltaic thin-film architectures. By exploiting phase-separated self-assembly, here we present advances in a vertically oriented two-component system that offers potential for future development of nanostructured thin film solar cells. Through a single-step deposition by magnetron sputtering, we demonstrate growth of an epitaxial, composite film matrix formed as self-assembled, well ordered, phase segregated, and oriented nanopillars of n-type TiO{sub 2} and p-type Cu{sub 2}O. The composite films were structurally characterized to atomic resolution by a variety of analytical tools, and evaluated for preliminary optical properties using absorption measurements. We find nearly atomically distinct TiO{sub 2}–Cu{sub 2}O interfaces (i.e., needed for possible active p–n junctions), and an absorption profile that captures a wide range of the solar spectrum extending from ultraviolet to visible wavelengths. This high-quality materials system could lead to photovoltaic devices that can be optimized for both incident light absorption and carrier collection.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Suppressing Universal Cathode Crossover in High‐Energy Lithium Metal Batteries via a Versatile Interlayer Design**

Abstract The universal cathode crossover such as chemical and oxygen has been significantly overlooked in lithium metal batteries using high‐energy cathodes which leads to severe capacity degradation and raises serious safety concerns. Herein, a versatile and thin (≈25 μm) interlayer composed of multifunctional active sites was developed to simultaneously regulate the Li deposition process and suppress the cathode crossover. The as‐induced dual‐gradient solid‐electrolyte interphase combined with abundant lithiophilic sites enable stable Li stripping/plating process even under high current density of 10 mA cm −2 . Moreover, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and synchrotron X‐ray experiments revealed that N‐rich framework and CoZn dual active sites can effectively mitigate the undesired cathode crossover, hence significantly minimizing Li corrosion. Therefore, assembled lithium metal cells using various high‐energy cathode materials including LiNi 0.7 Mn 0.2 Co 0.1 O 2 , Li 1.2 Co 0.1 Mn 0.55 Ni 0.15 O 2 , and sulfur demonstrate significantly improved cycling stability with high cathode loading.

Xie, Chuyi↗
DOE OSTI2023

Suppressing Universal Cathode Crossover in High‐Energy Lithium Metal Batteries via a Versatile Interlayer Design**

Abstract The universal cathode crossover such as chemical and oxygen has been significantly overlooked in lithium metal batteries using high‐energy cathodes which leads to severe capacity degradation and raises serious safety concerns. Herein, a versatile and thin (≈25 μm) interlayer composed of multifunctional active sites was developed to simultaneously regulate the Li deposition process and suppress the cathode crossover. The as‐induced dual‐gradient solid‐electrolyte interphase combined with abundant lithiophilic sites enable stable Li stripping/plating process even under high current density of 10 mA cm −2 . Moreover, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and synchrotron X‐ray experiments revealed that N‐rich framework and CoZn dual active sites can effectively mitigate the undesired cathode crossover, hence significantly minimizing Li corrosion. Therefore, assembled lithium metal cells using various high‐energy cathode materials including LiNi 0.7 Mn 0.2 Co 0.1 O 2 , Li 1.2 Co 0.1 Mn 0.55 Ni 0.15 O 2 , and sulfur demonstrate significantly improved cycling stability with high cathode loading.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2018

A histidine-rich elastin-like polypeptide functions as a quickly detectable and easily purifiable protein fusion tag

Highlights: • A HRELP fusion tag is designed and highly expressed in E. coli. • HRELP fusion tag can be specifically and quickly stained with Pauly's reagent. • HRELP fusion protein can be detected in both cell lysate and SDS-PAGE. • HRELP fusion protein can be purified by pH-triggered ITC. Although many protein fusion tags have been developed for recombinant protein production to improve protein yields or facilitate purification, determining the expression and purification of the fusion protein still remain to be a time-consuming and laborious procedure. In this work, we designed a histidine-rich elastin-like polypeptide (HRELP) fusion tag and found that it could be efficiently expressed in E. coli cells and specifically stained with Pauly's reagent in a couple of minutes post SDS-PAGE analysis. Moreover, in Pauly's reagent-stained polyacrylamide gels, only the bands of HRELP fusion proteins were yellow and could be clearly visualized with little background. Furthermore, both HRELPs and HRELP20-BMP2 fusion protein could be purified by a method of pH shift-mediated inverse transition cycling (ITC). In our opinion, the HRELP established in this study may be considered as a multifunctional protein tag which could make its fusion proteins being quickly detected by Pauly staining and simply purified by pH-triggered ITC in addition to having the potential to sustained release its fusion proteins.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

Resistance switching memory in perovskite oxides

The resistance switching behavior has recently attracted great attentions for its application as resistive random access memories (RRAMs) due to a variety of advantages such as simple structure, high-density, high-speed and low-power. As a leading storage media, the transition metal perovskite oxide owns the strong correlation of electrons and the stable crystal structure, which brings out multifunctionality such as ferroelectric, multiferroic, superconductor, and colossal magnetoresistance/electroresistance effect, etc. The existence of rich electronic phases, metal–insulator transition and the nonstoichiometric oxygen in perovskite oxide provides good platforms to insight into the resistive switching mechanisms. In this review, we first introduce the general characteristics of the resistance switching effects, the operation methods and the storage media. Then, the experimental evidences of conductive filaments, the transport and switching mechanisms, and the memory performances and enhancing methods of perovskite oxide based filamentary RRAM cells have been summarized and discussed. Subsequently, the switching mechanisms and the performances of the uniform RRAM cells associating with the carrier trapping/detrapping and the ferroelectric polarization switching have been discussed. Finally, the advices and outlook for further investigating the resistance switching and enhancing the memory performances are given.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2019

Retractile lysyl-tRNA synthetase-AIMP2 assembly in the human multi-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complex

Multi-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complex (MSC) is the second largest machinery for protein synthesis in human cells and also regulates multiple nontranslational functions through its components. Prior studies have shown that the MSC can respond to external signals by releasing its components to function outside it. The internal assembly is fundamental to MSC regulation. Here, using crystal structural analyses (at 1.88 Å resolution) along with molecular modeling, gel-filtration chromatography, and co-immunoprecipitation, we report that human lysyl-tRNA synthetase (LysRS) forms a tighter assembly with the scaffold protein aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complex-interacting multifunctional protein 2 (AIMP2) than previously observed. Wefound that two AIMP2 N-terminal peptides form an antiparallel scaffold and hold two LysRS dimers through four binding motifs and additional interactions. Of note, the four catalytic subunits of LysRS in the tightly assembled complex were all accessible for tRNA recognition. We further noted that two recently reported human disease-associated mutations conflict with this tighter assembly, cause LysRS release from the MSC, and inactivate the enzyme. These findings reveal a previously unknown dimension of MSC subcomplex assembly and suggest that the retractility of this complex may be critical for its physiological functions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS2003

Thin Film Technology Development for the Powersphere

The Aerospace Corporation, NASA Glenn Research Center, Lockheed-Martin, and ILC Dover over the past two years have been engaged in developing a Multifunctional Inflatable Structure for the Powersphere Concept under contract with NASA (NAS3-01115). The Powersphere concept consists of a relatively large spherical solar array, which would be deployed from a microsatellite. The Powersphere structure and the deployment method was patented by the Aerospace Corporation (U.S. Patent Numbers 6,284,966 B 1 and 6,3 18,675). The work on this project has resulted in a number of technological innovations in the state of the art for integrating flexible thin-film solar cells with flex circuit harness technology and inflatable ultraviolet-light-rigidizable structures. The specific power, specific volume, for the Powersphere are presented in Figures 1 and 2 as a function of solar cell technology and efficiency. The Powersphere will enable microsatellite missions across NASA enterprises and DoD missions by providing ample electric power at an affordable cost. The Powersphere design provides attitude-independent electric power and thermal control for an enclosed microsatellite payload. The design is scalable, robust in high radiation environments and provides sufficient electric power to allow the use of electric propulsion. Electric propulsion enables precise positioning of microsatellites which is required for inspectors that would be deployed to inspect the International Space Station, Space Shuttle or large unmanned spacecraft. The Powersphere allows for efficient launch packaging versus deployed volume as shown in Figure 3.

Simburger, Edward J.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Multifunctional Inflatable Structure Being Developed for the PowerSphere Concept

NASA has funded a collaborative team of The Aerospace Corporation, ILC Dover, Lockheed Martin, and NASA Glenn Research Center to develop the Multifunctional Inflatable Structure (MIS) for a "PowerSphere" concept through a NASA Research Announcement. This power system concept has several advantages, including a high collection area, low weight and stowage volume, and the elimination of all solar array pointing mechanisms. The current 3-year effort will culminate with the fabrication and testing of a fully functional engineering development unit. The baseline design of the Power-Sphere consists of two opposing semispherical domes connected to a central spacecraft. Each semispherical dome consists of hexagonal and pentagonal solar cell panels that together form a geodetic sphere. Inflatable ultraviolet (UV) rigidizable tubular hinges between the solar cell panels and UV rigidizable isogrid center columns with imbedded flex circuitry form the MIS. The reference configuration for the PowerSphere is a 0.6-m-diameter (fully deployed) spacecraft with a total mass budget of 4 kg (1 kg for PowerSphere, 3 kg for spacecraft) capable of producing 29 W of electricity with 10-percent-efficient thin-film solar cells. In a stowed configuration, the solar cell panels will be folded sequentially to the outside of the instrument decks. The center column will be z-folded between the instrument decks and the spacecraft housing for packaging. The instrument panel will secure the z-folded stack with launch ties. After launch, once the release tie is triggered, the center column and hinge tubes will inflate and be rigidized in their final configurations by ultraviolet radiation. The overall PowerSphere deployment sequence is shown pictorially in the following illustration.

Peterson, Todd T.↗
DOE OSTI2013

Keap1 silencing boosts lipopolysaccharide-induced transcription of interleukin 6 via activation of nuclear factor κB in macrophages

Interleukin-6 (IL6) is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates immune and inflammatory responses. Multiple transcription factors, including nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), regulate IL6 transcription. Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) is a substrate adaptor protein for the Cullin 3-dependent E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, which regulates the degradation of many proteins, including Nrf2 and IκB kinase β (IKKβ). Here, we found that stable knockdown of Keap1 (Keap1-KD) in RAW 264.7 (RAW) mouse macrophages and human monocyte THP-1 cells significantly increased expression of Il6, and Nrf2-target genes, under basal and lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 0.001–0.1 μg/ml)-challenged conditions. However, Nrf2 activation alone, by tert-butylhydroquinone treatment of RAW cells, did not increase expression of Il6. Compared to cells transduced with scrambled non-target negative control shRNA, Keap1-KD RAW cells showed enhanced protein levels of IKKβ and increased expression and phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 under non-stressed and LPS-treated conditions. Because the expression of Il6 in Keap1-KD RAW cells was significantly attenuated by silencing of Ikkβ, but not Nrf2, it appears that stabilized IKKβ is responsible for the enhanced transactivation of Il6 in Keap1-KD cells. This study demonstrated that silencing of Keap1 in macrophages boosts LPS-induced transcription of Il6 via NF-κB activation. Given the importance of IL6 in the inflammatory response, the Keap1–IKKβ–NF-κB pathway may be a novel target for treatment and prevention of inflammation and associated disorders. - Highlights: • Knockdown of Keap1 increases expression of Il6 in macrophages. • Silencing of Keap1 results in protein accumulation of IKKβ and NF-κB p65. • Induction of Il6 resulting from Keap1 silencing is attributed to NF-κB activation.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Photothermal Properties of Nanostructured Black Titanium Dioxide for Targeted Cellular and Microbial Elimination

Heterophase black titanium dioxide (hB-TiO 2 ), characterized by broadened near-infrared (NIR) absorption, has emerged as a promising photothermally active nanomaterial. This study focused on the synthesis of nanoscale hB-TiO 2 and its evaluation as a multifunctional agent for photothermal therapy (PTT). The purity and composition of the mixed-phase nanoscale hB-TiO 2 were demonstrated by X-ray diffraction, and the morphology of nanoparticles was imaged by transmission electron microscopy. Extensive additional characterization was conducted to validate the optoelectronic properties. The material was further evaluated in biological systems using NIH 3T3-GFP fibroblasts and the fungus Candida albicans. Nanoscale hB-TiO 2 exhibited good biocompatibility in the absence of laser irradiation and effectively ablated both NIH 3T3-GFP cells and C. albicans following 20 min of laser exposure. This noninvasive treatment strategy leverages NIR-responsive materials to induce localized hyperthermia. The findings provide grounds for the use of selectively induced hyperthermia, which could be employed for the targeted destruction of cells or fungi with minimal impact on surrounding tissue if the material is functionalized with specific targeting groups and delivered to cells or fungal infections.

Irradiation↗
DOE OSTI2018

Optical Helicity-Manipulated Photocurrents and Photovoltages in Organic Solar Cells

The performance of an organic functional device can be effectively improved through external field manipulation. In this study, we experimentally demonstrate the optical polarization manipulation of the photocurrent or photovoltage in organic solar cells. Through switching the incident light from a linearly polarized light to a circularly polarized one, we find a pronounced change in the photocurrent, which is not observable in normal inorganic cells. There are two competing hypotheses for the primary process underlying the circular polarization-dependent phenomena in organic materials, one involving the inverse Faraday effect (IFE) and the other a direct photon spin–electron spin interaction. By way of ingenious device design and external magnetic field-induced stimuli, it is expected that the organic IFE can be a powerful experimental tool in revealing and elucidating excited-state processes occurring in organic spintronic and optoelectronic devices. Therefore, we believe that our results will potentially lead to the development of new multifunctional organic devices with integrated electronic, optical, and magnetic properties for energy conversion, optical communication, and sensing technologies.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Multifunctional Isostructural Bilayer Oxygen Evolution Electrode for Durable Intermediate-Temperature Electrochemical Water Splitting

The overarching goal of the proposed research is to address SOEC’s degradation problem by advancing a new isostructural highly electrocatalytically active bilayer oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrode, consisting of a LSCF (La 1-x Sr x Co 1-y Fe y O 3-δ ) core and a SCT (SrCo 0.9 Ta 0.1 O 3-δ ) shell, to achieve high and sustainable rate of oxygen evolution matching operating current densities without encountering delamination. To realize this goal, the project has adopted a combined experimental and theoretical approach to conduct research in the following six areas closely associated with SOPO tasks: 1) Development of electrocatalytically active bilayer oxygen electrodes (SOPO task-1) 2) Development of new symmetric three electrode cell (STEC) methodology to extract electrokinetic data of oxygen electrodes (SOPO task-2) 3) Quantification of electrokinetics of bilayer oxygen electrodes and correlation with degradation and delamination (SOPO task-2) 4) Performances of bilayer oxygen electrodes under fuel cells and electrolyzers modes (SOPO task-3) 5) Microscale modeling of oxygen electrode/electrolyte interface in solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOPO task-4) 6) Prediction of crack growth rate at oxygen electrode/electrolyte interface in solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOPO task-4)

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2023

Enabling Structure/Interface Regulation for High Performance Ni-Rich Cathodes

Here, further commercialization of Ni-rich layered cathodes is hindered by severe structure/interface degradation and kinetic hindrance that occur during electrochemical operation, which leads to safety risks and reduced range in electric vehicles (EVs). Herein, by selecting elements with different solubility properties, a multifunctional strategy that synchronously fabricates perovskite-type SrZrO 3 coating and Sr/Zr co-doping is employed to strengthen the structure/interface stability and the Li + transport mobility of LiNi 0.85 Co 0.10 Mn 0.05 O 2 (NCM). Perovskite-type SrZrO 3 protective layers formed on the particle surface can substantially mitigate the unexpected interfacial side reactions and surface phase transitions. In addition, a robust crystal framework is constructed by optimizing local O coordination through the introduction of strong Zr-O bonds. Notably, Li + diffusion kinetics is effectively improved due to expanded cell parameters and O-Li-O slab spacing with the incorporation of large-diameter Sr pillar ions, as revealed by X-ray diffraction. As a result, the Sr/Zr-modified NCM achieves a remarkable capacity retention of 99.4% after 200 cycles at 1 C, and a high rate capacity of 168.9 mAh g -1 at 10 C. This work opens new avenues to develop high-performance NCM cathodes with high energy and high power for EVs with long calendar life.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2017

A rationally designed polysulfide-trapping interface on the polymeric separator for high-energy Li–S batteries

A coating layer consisting of a layer of graphene oxide (GO) inserted in between two layers of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) forms a multifunctional polysulfide-trapping triple-interface on the polymeric separator for lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. The top and bottom highly conductive MWCNT interfaces are able to physically inhibit polysulfide diffusion and effectively reutilize the trapped active material during cycling. The inserted ultrathin GO layer with negatively charged carboxyl groups, on the other hand, electrostatically repels the migrating polysulfide anions. The stacked GO sheets also extensively prolong the migration routes of the polysulfides. Additionally, the “buffer zones” interspersed within the triple-interface accommodate the migrating polysulfides. Thus, the sandwiched separators enable Li–S cells with a high-sulfur-loading (10 mg cm -2 ), high areal capacity (10.9 mA h cm -2 ), and stable cycling ability even though the coating layer is ultra-thin (~17 μm) and light-weight (~0.23 mg cm -2 ).

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Natural nanoparticle complexes at water-water interfaces

Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) with multifunctional attributes have significant promise as biomimetic materials, but current approaches do not harness their full potential. Here, we show that ATPSs can be stabilized to form microcapsules by the interfacial assembly of chitin nanofibers (ChNF) and rod-like cellulose nanocrystals (CNC). The high structural stability of the ChNF/CNC complexes integrates permeability and transport across the membrane at the liquid/liquid interface. Driven by density and osmotic stress gradients, the microcapsules show switchable motility, including cyclic meniscus-climbing and subsurface transport. These observations demonstrate a self-regulating system with potential for cargo transfer, cell biomimicry, as well as ATPSs-based microreactors and microrobots.

Bioinspired materials↗
NASA NTRS2013

Multifunctional Space Evaporator-Absorber-Radiator (SEAR)

A system for non-venting thermal control for spacesuits was built by integrating two previously developed technologies, namely NASA's Spacesuit Water Membrane Evaporator (SWME), and Creare's flexible version of the Lithium Chloride Absorber Radiator (LCAR). This SEAR system was tested in relevant thermal vacuum conditions. These tests show that a 1 sq m radiator having about three times as much absorption media as in the test article would be required to support a 7 hour spacewalk. The serial flow arrangement of the LCAR of the flexible version proved to be inefficient for venting non-condensable gas (NCG). A different LCAR packaging arrangement was conceived wherein the Portable Life Support System (PLSS) housing would be made with a high-strength carbon fiber composite honeycomb, the cells of which would be filled with the chemical absorption media. This new packaging reduce the mass and volume impact of the SEAR on the Portable Life Support System (PLSS) compared to the flexible design. A 0.2 sq m panel with flight-like honeycomb geometry is being constructed and will be tested in thermal and thermal vacuum conditions. Design analyses forecast improved system performance and improved NCG control. A flight-like regeneration system also is also being built and tested. Design analyses for the structurally integrated prototype as well as the earlier test data show that SEAR is not only practical for spacesuits but also has useful applications in spacecraft thermal control.

Bue, Grant C.↗
NASA NTRS1984

A new multifunction acousto-optic signal processor

An acousto-optic architecture for simultaneously obtaining time integration correlation and high-speed power spectrum analysis was constructed using commercially available TeO2 modulators and photodiode detector-arrays. The correlator section of the processor uses coherent interferometry to attain maximum bandwidth and dynamic range while achieving a time-bandwidth product of 1 million. Two correllator outputs are achieved in this system configuration. One is optically filtered and magnified 2 : 1 to decrease the spatial frequency to a level where a 25-MHz bandwidth may be sampled by a 62-mm array with elements on 25-micro centers. The other output is magnified by a factor of 10 such that the center 4 microseconds of information is available for estimation of time-difference-of-arrival to within 10 ns. The Bragg cell spectrum-analyzer section, which also has two outputs, resolves a 25-MHz instantaneous bandwidth to 25 kHz and can determine discrete-frequency reception time to within 15 microseconds. A microprocessor combines spectrum analysis information with that obtained from the correlator.

Berg, N. J.↗