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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 271 records · Page 15
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Historic Significance and Current Condition Assessment of Building 06-CP-170, the Yucca Flat Weather Station, Area 6, Nevada National Security Site, Nye County, Nevada

This report was produced in partial fulfillment of the mitigation of adverse effects to Building 06-CP-170, the Yucca Flat Weather Station on the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), and is intended to comply with the 2021 Memorandum of Agreement DE-GM58-21NA25543 Between the U.S. Department of Energy and the Nevada State Historic Preservation Officer Regarding Demolition of Fourteen Buildings and Structures in Area 6 of the Nevada National Security Site, Nye County, Nevada (hereafter referred to as the MOA). This MOA was executed to resolve adverse effects from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) plan to demolish 14 architectural resources at the Control Point and in the vicinity in Area 6 of the NNSS. The management and operations contractor for the NNSS identified these 14 architectural resources as environmental hazards unsafe for human occupation due to deterioration and rodent infestation. Building 06-CP-170 is scheduled for demolition as part of this undertaking. Building 06-CP-170 was originally recorded in 2018 during a Section 106 cultural resources inventory for a proposed installation of a 138-kilovolt transmission line on the NNSS. The building was determined individually eligible by the DOE, in consultation with the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office, for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places under the Secretary of the Interior’s Significance Criterion A because of its association with nuclear testing. Pursuant to Stipulation III.D.3 of the MOA, this report provides a summary of the historic significance of Building 06-CP-170 and a description of its current condition and accessory resources. In addition, an updated Architectural Resource Assessment (ARA) form with new information and photographs is included in the appendix in fulfillment of Stipulation III.D.2.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Historic Significance and Current Condition Assessment of Building 06-CP-10, Device Assembly Building, Area 6, Nevada National Security Site, Nye County, Nevada

This report was produced in partial fulfillment of the mitigation of adverse effects to Building 06-CP-10, the first device assembly building on the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), and is intended to comply with the 2021 Memorandum of Agreement DE-GM58-21NA25543 Between the U.S. Department of Energy and the Nevada State Historic Preservation Officer Regarding Demolition of Fourteen Buildings and Structures in Area 6 of the Nevada National Security Site, Nye County (hereafter referred to as the MOA). This MOA was executed to resolve adverse effects from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) plan to demolish 14 architectural resources at the Control Point and in the vicinity in Area 6 of the NNSS. The management and operations contractor for the NNSS identified these 14 architectural resources as environmental hazards unsafe for human occupation due to deterioration and rodent infestation. Building 06-CP-10 and two small magazine bunkers (06-CP-10A and 06-CP-805) associated with Building 06-CP-10 are scheduled for demolition as part of this undertaking. Building 06-CP-10 was originally recorded in 2003 during a historical evaluation of four buildings in Area 6. In consultation with the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office, the building was determined individually eligible for inclusion in the NRHP under the Secretary of the Interior’s Significance Criterion A because of its association with nuclear testing and under Significance Criterion C as a distinct type of construction associated with the nuclear industry. Building 06-CP-10A, a munitions magazine, and 06- CP-805, a cap-and-fuse bunker, have been recorded as contributing accessory resources to 06-CP-10. Pursuant to Stipulation III.C.3 of the MOA, this report provides a summary of the historic significance of Building 06-CP-10 and a description of its current condition and accessory resources. In addition, an updated Architectural Resource Assessment (ARA) form with new information and photographs is included in the appendix in fulfillment of Stipulation III.C.2.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Selected Area Deposition of PtC x Nanostructures: Implications for Functional Coatings of 3D Nanoarchitectures

Here, we report that selected area deposition of 3D nanostructures is induced via a pyrolytic laser chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process where selected area heating results from the unique photothermal transport regime that is intrinsic to 3D nanostructures. PtC x composite nanostructures were deposited by focused electron beam-induced deposition (FEBID) and used as 3D templates. Subsequent simultaneous localized delivery of an organometallic PtC x precursor and pulsed 915 nm laser irradiation to the pre-defined nanostructures results in selected area deposition on the FEBID features. Results indicate the ability to initiate the process on sub-diffraction-limit nanoscale features. To elucidate the mechanisms that are operative in the selected area deposition, we analyze the effects of the laser repetition rate, power, and pulse duration. Thermal simulations corroborate that the pseudo-1D thermal transport of the nanostructure geometry coupled with the optical and thermal properties of the nanostructure governs the CVD reaction. The results demonstrated here suggest that controlling the thermal transport in nanomaterial architectures could be a useful means to spatially control localized photothermally stimulated chemical reactions and induce selected area reactions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Memory forensic analysis of a programmable logic controller in industrial control systems

In industrial control systems (ICS), programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are used to automate physical processes such as nuclear plants and power grid stations, and are often subject to cyber attacks. As in conventional IT domain, the memory analysis of the PLCs can help answer important forensic questions about the attack, such as the presence of malicious firmware, injection of modified control logic (the program running on the PLC), and manipulation of I/O devices (e.g., sensors and actuators). Unlike conventional IT domain, PLCs have heterogeneous hardware architecture, proprietary firmware and control software, making it challenging to employ a unified framework for their memory forensics. For merely extracting artifacts of forensic importance, reverse-engineering the firmware is a tedious task, and the effort needs to be repeated for every PLC model. As a community, a step-wise approach to tackle this challenge is to analyze the memory of specific PLCs, and subsequently find a generic framework applicable to all PLCs. Our work is a step forward in this direction. By following a methodology that focuses on the functional layer of PLCs instead of reverse engineering the firmware, we analyze the digital forensic artifacts available in a common PLC, Allen-Bradley ControlLogix 1756-L61. Before diving into the memory dump, we analyze the PLC control software to create a list of important artifacts that are sure to exist in the PLC memory dump. The approach employs a setup where PLC control software RSLogix-5000 is connected to the PLC, and the memory dump can be obtained as and when needed. We create test cases that sequentially highlight each category of artifacts, followed by an examination of the resultant impact on memory. After attaining the listed artifacts, we employ conventional string and known data searches to extract interesting information present in this PLC's memory. The memory analysis profile, presented as a Python library and shared with the community, can help a forensic investigator to readily extract forensic artifacts from the same model's controller. The adopted approach may help researchers in creating memory profile of other PLCs, and ultimately formulating a generic PLC memory analysis framework.

Rais, Muhammad Haris↗
DOE OSTI2020

Carbon Fiber and Syntactic Foam Hybrid Materials via Core–Shell Material Extrusion Additive Manufacturing

Abstract Biological materials often employ hybrid architectures, such as the core–shell (C–S) motif present in porcupine quills and plant stems, to achieve unique specific properties and performance. Drawing inspiration from these natural materials, a new method to fabricate lightweight and stiff C–S architected filaments is reported. Specifically, a C–S printhead conducive to printing highly loaded fiber‐filled inks, as well as a new low‐density syntactic foam ink, are utilized to 3D‐print C–S architectures consisting of a syntactic epoxy foam core surrounded by a stiff carbon fiber‐reinforced epoxy composite shell. Effective printing of test specimens and structures with controlled geometry, composition, and architecture is demonstrated. The new foam ink exhibits density as low as 0.68 g cm −3 and C–S structures exhibit up to 25% higher specific flexural stiffness ( E 1/3 /ρ) than either constituent alone. Finally, a new mechanical model is presented to predict this performance improvement while accounting for potential eccentricity of the core.

Pack, Robert C.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Data Centers and Digital Assurance Workshop 3 – Mitigations for Digital Assurance Risks

The third session of the TADA (Technical Assistance for Digital Assurance) Data Centers Cohort, held on November 18, 2025, focused on developing mitigation strategies for digital assurance risks identified in previous workshops. Hosted by Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and ScottMadden, the session emphasized the application of Cyber-Informed Engineering (CIE) to data center infrastructure, particularly at the utility–data center interface. Participants revisited and ranked key digital assurance risks, including architecture and interface weaknesses, governance gaps, and AI-enabled threats. The workshop introduced the 12 principles of CIE, advocating for consequence-focused design, engineered controls, and secure information architecture to proactively reduce cyber-physical vulnerabilities. These principles were applied to critical data center systems such as power distribution, UPS, cooling, SCADA/BMS, and grid-forming batteries. The session also addressed governance challenges at the interconnection boundary, highlighting the need for clear roles in telemetry sharing, firmware management, and trip settings. Special attention was given to emerging risks from behind-the-meter (BTM) generation, including reverse-power flow and the integration of small modular reactors (SMRs), which shift data centers from large loads to complex generation nodes. Participants explored how interconnection agreements can serve as enforceable instruments for digital assurance, and reviewed gaps in current standards such as NERC CIP, IEC 62443, and IEEE 1547. The workshop concluded with pathways to standardization, including model agreement language, state-level programs, and expanded NERC guidance. INL also presented tools and frameworks for secure procurement and supplier risk management, reinforcing the need for integrated engineering and policy solutions to secure the evolving data center–grid ecosystem. Session 3 of 3.

24 - POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2022

Diels–Alder Augmented Epoxies with Plasmonic Nanoparticle Fillers for Efficient Photothermal Depolymerization

Thermally reversible epoxies through the Diels–Alder (DA) reaction have been used for applications such as recycling, self-healing, and 3D printing. Depolymerization by bulk heating, however, would be a slow and inefficient process due to its low thermal conductivity. In this paper, photothermal conversion using refractory plasmonic titanium nitride (TiN) nanoparticles was employed for efficient and rapid depolymerization of reversible epoxies. TiN nanoparticles have superior thermal stability, broader light absorption, and higher light-to-heat conversion efficiency. They are also less expensive than more common plasmonic gold nanoparticles. Photothermal behavior of TiN nanoparticle-filled reversible epoxies was investigated as a function of concentration of TiN nanoparticles and as a function of the intensity of a light source. TiN nanoparticles could induce sufficient heat for depolymerization with a trace content, 0.01% by weight, under a broad-spectrum white light of intensity 1760 mW/cm 2 instead of a strong light source such as a laser. The reversible epoxies were prepared by a reaction between furan precursors and a bismaleimide compound. Crosslinking density was controlled by altering the architecture of furan precursors and the feed ratio between the furan precursor and the bismaleimide compound. These changes in chemical structure and degree of crosslinking permit the control of the thermomechanical properties of the reversible epoxy from soft elastomers to hard elastomers. Here, the reversible epoxies display a flow region at around 110 °C. Depolymerization through the retro-DA was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy as a function of duration at a high temperature. Light-induced removability and recyclability were demonstrated by adhesion tests using the reversible epoxy/nanoparticle composites.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Diversifying self-assembled phases in block copolymer thin films via blending

Block copolymer (BCP) thin films readily self-assemble into intricate nanoscale morphologies, with structure dictated by chain architecture. As the field searches for more control over structure formation, it is natural to investigate more sophisticated control mechanisms, such as synthesizing more complex chain architectures or applying directing fields. We review the use of a simple but powerful method for controlling self-assembly: blending of BCPs with homopolymers or other BCPs. Blending enables tailoring ordering kinetics, the spatial distribution of chains throughout the film thickness, and the nanoscale morphology itself. Blending is thus emerging as a remarkably simple and powerful means of tailoring self-assembled morphologies.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Time-Varying Output Delay Compensation-A Model-Free Approach and its Application on Cooperative On-Ramp Merging

This paper presents a model-free approach to compensate for time-varying output delay in networked control systems. The proposed architecture combines a model-free observer and the Smith predictor. The model-free observer estimates the current state while handling modeling errors and uncertainties of the system. The Smith predictor moves the effect of time delay outside the control closed-loop using the estimated delayed output and the actual output of the plant. The proposed method is applied to a cooperative on-ramp merging problem. First, an ultra-local model predictive control is implemented to provide a computationally efficient online speed planner agnostic to the vehicle dynamics. After that, a model-free observer is designed to estimate the current state. Finally, the proposed architecture is tested against a time-varying output delay with an upper bound of 200 milliseconds. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method with improved tracking of intervehicle distance.

Waleed khan, Muhammad [The University of Texas at ↗
DOE OSTI2020

Commercial building loads providing ancillary services In PJM

The adoption of low carbon energy technologies such as variable renewable energy and electric vehicles, coupled with the efficacy of energy efficiency to reduce traditional base load has increased the uncertainty inherent in the net load shape. Handling this variability with slower, traditional resources leads to inefficient system dispatch, and in some cases may compromise reliability. Grid operators are looking to future energy technologies, such as automated demand response (DR), to provide capacity-based reliability services as the need for these services increase. While DR resources are expected to have the flexibility characteristics operators are looking for, demonstrations are necessary to build confidence in their capabilities. Additionally, building owners are uncertain of the monetary value and operational burden of providing these services. To address this, the present study demonstrates the ability of demand response resources providing two ancillary services in the PJM territory, synchronous reserve and regulation, using an OpenADR 2.0b signaling architecture. The loads under control include HVAC and lighting at a big box retail store and variable frequency fan loads. The study examines performance characteristics of the resource: the speed of response, communications latencies in the architecture, and accuracy of response. It also examines the frequency and duration of events and the value in the marketplace which can be used to examine if the opportunity is sufficient to entice building owners to participate.

MacDonald, Jason↗
DOE OSTI2025

Gene network centrality analysis identifies key regulators coordinating day-night metabolic transitions in Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 despite limited accuracy in predicting direct regulator-gene interactions

Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 is a model organism for studying circadian regulation and bioproduction, where precise temporal control of metabolism significantly impacts photosynthetic efficiency and CO 2 -to-bioproduct conversion. Despite extensive research on core clock components, our understanding of the broader regulatory network orchestrating genome-wide metabolic transitions remains incomplete. We address this gap by applying machine learning tools and network analysis to investigate the transcriptional architecture governing circadian-controlled gene expression. While our approach showed moderate accuracy in predicting individual transcription factor-gene interactions - a common challenge with real expression data - network-level topological analysis successfully revealed the organizational principles of circadian regulation. Our analysis identified distinct regulatory modules coordinating day-night metabolic transitions, with photosynthesis and carbon/nitrogen metabolism controlled by day-phase regulators, while nighttime modules orchestrate glycogen mobilization and redox metabolism. Through network centrality analysis, we identified potentially significant but previously understudied transcriptional regulators: HimA as a putative DNA architecture regulator, and TetR and SrrB as potential coordinators of nighttime metabolism, working alongside established global regulators RpaA and RpaB. This work demonstrates how network-level analysis can extract biologically meaningful insights despite limitations in predicting direct regulatory interactions. The regulatory principles uncovered here advance our understanding of how cyanobacteria coordinate complex metabolic transitions and may inform metabolic engineering strategies for enhanced photosynthetic bioproduction from CO 2 .

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Bridging Control and Deployment: A Cross-Layer Analysis of Scalable Building Cluster Control

Building cluster control has emerged as a promising approach for enabling flexible and coordinated operation of distributed building systems, yet its transition from pilot demonstrations to routine grid-interactive operation remains limited. This paper argues that this gap cannot be explained by control algorithms alone. Instead, it arises from interacting barriers in communication infrastructure, data and semantic interoperability, uncertainty management, stakeholder participation, market design, and policy support. Accordingly, the paper reviews both technical and non-technical barriers to building cluster control. Technical challenges include heterogeneous devices and protocols, communication latency and reliability, distributed decision-making, and uncertainty propagation across aggregated loads. Non-technical barriers include user participation, stakeholder coordination, incentive allocation, and data governance. Existing solution approaches are synthesized, including semantic interoperability frameworks, edge and hierarchical communication architectures, distributed and transactive control strategies, uncertainty-aware optimization, policy mechanisms, and market reforms. Based on this analysis, two research directions are identified: testing infrastructures that can evaluate control performance under realistic multi-building conditions, and abstraction methods that allow building clusters to interact with other energy sectors through standardized flexibility representations. Overall, the paper provides a structured review of how building cluster control can move from isolated demonstrations toward reproducible, market-compatible, and grid-relevant implementation.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2023

Stream Temperature Prediction in a Shifting Environment: Explaining the Influence of Deep Learning Architecture

Stream temperature is a fundamental control on ecosystem health. Recent efforts incorporating process guidance into deep learning models for predicting stream temperature have been shown to outperform existing statistical and physical models. This performance is in part because deep learning architectures can actively learn spatiotemporal relationships that govern how water and energy propagate through a river network. However, exploration of how spatiotemporal awareness and process guidance influence a model's generalizability under shifting environmental conditions such as climate change is limited. Here, we use Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) to interrogate how differing deep learning architectures affect a model's learned spatial and temporal dependencies, and how those learned dependencies affect a model's ability to maintain high accuracy when applied to unseen environmental conditions. Using the Delaware River Basin in the northeastern United States as a test case, we compare two spatiotemporally aware process–guided deep learning models for predicting stream temperature (a recurrent graph convolution network—RGCN, and a temporal convolution graph model—Graph WaveNet). Both models achieve equally high predictive performance when testing data are well represented in the training data (test root mean squared errors of 1.64°C and 1.65°C); however, Graph WaveNet significantly outperforms RGCN in 4 out of 5 experiments where test partitions represent different types of unseen environmental conditions. XAI results show that the architecture of Graph WaveNet leads to learned spatial relationships with greater fidelity to physical processes, and that this fidelity improves the generalizability of the model when applied to shifting and/or unseen environmental conditions.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Hierarchical porous metals with deterministic 3D morphology and shape via de-alloying of 3D printed alloys

The present disclosure relates to a method for forming a three dimensional, hierarchical, porous metal structure with deterministically controlled 3D multiscale pore architectures. The method may involve providing a feedstock able to be applied in an additive manufacturing process, and using an additive manufacturing process to produce a three dimensional (3D) structure using the feedstock. The method may involve further processing the 3D structure through at least a de-alloying operation to form a metallic 3D structure having an engineered, digitally controlled macropore morphology with integrated nanoporosity.

Qi, Zhen↗
DOE OSTI2020

Ligand-Guided Growth of Alloyed Shells on Intermetallic Seeds as a Route toward Multimetallic Nanocatalysts with Shape-Control

In this work, shape-controlled core@shell PdCu@PtCu nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by seed-mediated co-reduction. Specifically, cubic-shaped NPs were achieved by selecting tetraoctylammonium bromide (TOAB) and triphenylphosphine (TPP) as capping ligands. Their roles were investigated by incorporating independently each ligand into the reaction and analyzing the products by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This analysis revealed that the quasi-spherical PdCu seeds acquired cubic shapes during the synthesis and directed shell deposition. This process was mediated by TPP, which was central to achieving monodisperse NPs with shape-control. The synthesis conditions were modified to tune both the thickness and composition of the shells. Evaluation of the NPs as catalysts for the electrooxidation of formic acid found that the NPs with the thinnest Pt-rich shells gave the highest specific activity, with the nanocubic shape also enhancing performance with respect to the spherical counterpart. These results highlight the benefits of integrating compositional, architectural, and shape-control all in one NP construct.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Synthesis of Tunable SnS-TaS 2 Nanoscale Superlattices

Nanoscale superlattices represent a compelling platform for designed materials as the specific identity and spatial arrangement of constituent layers can lead to tunable properties. A number of kinetically stabilized, nonepitaxial superlattices with almost limitless structural tunability have been reported in telluride and selenide chemistries but have not yet been extended to sulfides. Here, we present SnS-TaS 2 nanoscale superlattices with tunable layer architecture. Layered amorphous precursors are prepared as thin films programmed to mimic the targeted superlattice; subsequent low temperature annealing activates self-assembly into crystalline nanocomposites. We investigate structure and composition of superlattices comprised of monolayers of TaS 2 and 3–7 monolayers of SnS per repeating unit. Furthermore, a graded precursor preparation approach is introduced, allowing stabilization of superlattices with multiple stacking sequences in a single preparation. Controlled synthesis of the architecture of nanoscale superlattices is a critical path toward tuning their exotic properties and enabling integration with electronic, optical, or quantum devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Three-Dimensional Printable, Extremely Soft, Stretchable, and Reversible Elastomers from Molecular Architecture-Directed Assembly

3D printing elastomers enables the fabrication of many technologically important structures and devices such as tissue scaffolds, sensors, actuators, and soft robots. However, conventional 3D printable elastomers are intrinsically stiff; moreover, the process of printing often requires external mechanical support and/or post-treatment. In this work, we exploit the self-assembly of a responsive linear-bottlebrush-linear triblock copolymer to create stimuli-reversible, extremely soft, and stretchable elastomers and demonstrate their applicability as inks for in situ direct-write printing 3D structures without the aid of external mechanical support or post-treatment. By developing a procedure for controlled synthesis of such architecturally designed block copolymers, we create elastomers with extensibility up to 600% and Young’s moduli down to ~10 2 Pa, 10 6 times softer than plastics and more than 102 times softer than all existing 3D printable elastomers. Moreover, the elastomers are thermostable and remain to be solid up to 180 °C, yet they are 100% solvent-reprocessable. Their extreme softness, stretchability, thermostability, and solvent-reprocessability bode well for future applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Event driven readout architecture with non-priority arbitration for radiation detectors

A novel event driven readout architecture, EDWARD (Event Driven with Access and 8 Reset Decoder) architecture, for highly granular pixel detectors is presented. It incorporates, inter alia, an asynchronous arbitration tree based on Seitz' arbiters, removing the need for an imposed prioritization scheme. It also provides protection against glitches during readout. The system allows not only reading pixel activities, but also retrieving additional data, both analog and digital, from the pixels. A novel in-channel logic allows the entire readout process to be split into consecutive phases for additional flexibility. All operations are controlled by only one edge of the clock signal, seen as an acknowledge token, so there is no dead time between readouts.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗