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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

Salt hydrate-based phase change thermal energy storage and encapsulation thereof

Among other things, the present disclosure relates to phase change material (PCM) composites composed of an PCM mixed with a nucleating agent contained within the pores of a graphite matrix and/or a hydrogel. The process to create these PCM composites includes coating the surface of graphite with a surfactant, compressing the graphite to form a matrix, then filling the graphite matrix with the PCM.

Odukomaiya, Adewale↗

Encapsulation of thermal energy storage media

In one embodiment, a metal-plated polymer object includes a polymer surface, a first metal layer that has been applied to the polymer surface to render it electrically conductive, and a second metal layer that has been deposited on the first metal layer.

Dhau, Jaspreet↗

Ultra-High-Performance Grout for Encapsulation of Solid Secondary Waste

Ultra-high-performance grout (UHPG); Low H2O/CM; Small aggregate; May include fibers; Admix UHPG has excellent contaminant transport properties: Strong moisture retention; Low porosity; Low permeability; Diffusivity; High resistance to chloride penetration (− < 50 coulombs; ASTM C 1202)

Nichols, Ralph L.↗

Pore-encapsulated catalysts for selective hydrogenolysis of plastic waste

Disclosed herein is a catalyst which comprises a silica core having an outer surface and a mesoporous silica shell having an outer surface and an inner surface with the inner surface being inside the outer surface of said mesoporous silica shell proximate to and surrounding the outer surface of said silica core. Wherein the outer surface of the mesoporous silica shell has openings leading to pores within the mesoporous silica shell which extend toward the outer surface of said silica core. The catalyst also includes catalytically active metal nanoparticles positioned within the pores proximate to said core, wherein the catalytic metal nanoparticles comprise about 0.0001 wt % to about 1.0 wt % of the catalyst. Also disclosed are methods of making the catalyst and using it to carry out a process for catalytically hydrogenolysizing a polyolefinic polymer.

Sadow, Aaron D.↗

Water reflection analysis of encapsulated photovoltaic modules

A method for moisture testing of a fully assembled photovoltaic (PV) module. An assembled PV module is probed with short wave IR probe energy in the range of 1700-2000 nm. Energy reflected from the assembled PV module is collected and directed to a sensor. Noise is removed from a signal of the sensor with reference to the probe energy. Absorption is of the probe energy is determined. The absorption is correlated to moisture in the PV module. A preferred system that carries out the method provides a signal-to-noise ratio (as defined by standard deviation/mean of measured reflectance) of at least 3800.

Fenning, David↗

Overall Performance Losses and Activated Mechanisms in Double Glass and Glass-backsheet Photovoltaic Modules with Monofacial and Bifacial PERC Cells, under Accelerated Exposures

Commercial PV modules have various packaging choices nowadays, which influence their long-term reliability. This study compared the degradation behaviors of sixteen module variants from two brands with varying encapsulant materials (EVA or POE), encapsulant types, module architectures (GB or DG), and cell types (monofacial or bifacial) using null hypothesis testing to determine statistical significant findings. The modules were exposed for 2,520 hours under two accelerated exposures: modified damp heat (mDH) and modified damp heat with full-spectrum light (mDH+FSL). For both brands, two DG module variants with UV-Cutoff rear encapsulant are found to have significantly lower average power loss than the module variants of EVA+GB with opaque rear encapsulant after each accelerated exposure. Metallization interconnect corrosion is identified as the primary degradation mechanism. Furthermore, unsupervised hierarchical clustering finds that the degradation behaviors of modules from one brand with a more strict manufacturing quality control depends on module architectures only.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Vacuum manufacture of cryogenic pressure vessels for hydrogen storage

In one aspect the present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a cryogenic pressure vessel. The method may include providing a metal lined, composite wrapped vessel which has a boss. The method may further include securing an inlet to the boss, and then encapsulating the metal lined, composite wrapped vessel within a metallic layer in a vacuum controlled environment to form an encapsulated inner tank subassembly. The method may further include securing at least one support to an exterior of the encapsulated inner tank subassembly, and within the controlled vacuum environment, applying a metal coating over the encapsulated inner tank subassembly and the at least one support to form a metal coated, encapsulated inner tank subassembly. The method may further include, within the controlled vacuum environment, encapsulating the metal coated, encapsulated inner tank subassembly within a metallic vacuum jacket, which forms the cryogenic pressure vessel.

Aceves, Salvador M.↗

Electrochemical Modeling of PID Leakage Current of PV Modules: Steady-State Current, Transient Current, and RC-Equivalent Circuit

Potential-induced degradation (PID) remains a significant reliability concern for photovoltaic (PV) modules, arising when a voltage difference between the module frame and the solar cells drives unintended leakage current through the glass-encapsulant stack. Although PID ultimately manifests as PID-s, PID-p, or PID-c, the underlying behavior of the leakage current-its magnitude and time dependence-requires clearer electrochemical interpretation. Traditional explanations attribute the initial transient current to bulk capacitive elements of the glass, encapsulant, and antireflection coatings, and the steady-state current according to their effective ohmic resistance. More recent studies, however, indicate that electrochemical charge-transfer processes at the encapsulant-metallization interface can play a dominant role in defining the leakage-current path. This paper develops a unified electrochemical framework for modeling PID leakage current. First, an RC-equivalent circuit is formulated by combining conventional RC elements with a Randles-type interface to capture transient leakage current through double-layer capacitance and faradaic processes at ionic-electronic boundaries. Second, the steady-state current-voltage behavior is explained using a linearized Butler-Volmer relationship, showing that the measured ohmic response corresponds to the low-overpotential limit of charge-transfer kinetics. Analytical results demonstrate that, for typical module materials-3.2-mm soda-lime glass and 0.45-mm encapsulant-the dominant modulators to PID leakage current are the glass surface resistance (under dry-surface conditions), the glass bulk capacitance, and the encapsulant resistance (under wet-surface conditions), with soda lime glass surface and EVA/POE encapsulant resistances primarily governing steady-state current. The proposed electrochemical model is validated against measured leakage-current data, showing good agreement in both the magnitude and the time-dependent evolution of PID leakage current.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Evaluation of PV Module Packaging Strategies of Monofacial and Bifacial PERC Using Degradation Pathway Network Modeling

As the PV industry is rapidly expanding, it is important to thoroughly investigate the long-term impact of packaging strategies on the performance of PV modules. In this study, the variants in sets differ on the basis of manufacturer (A/B), encapsulant (EVA/POE), rear encapsulant (UV-cutoff/opaque/transparent), module architecture (GB/DG) and cell type (monofacial/bifacial). The minimodules were exposed for 2520 hours in modified damp heat, with or without full spectrum light. Every 504 hours, stepwise electrical characterization techniques were employed to track changes in minimodules. Degradation pathway modeling using network structural equation modeling was employed to study pairwise relationships between variables and service lifetime prediction in minimodules. Through this study, differences in quality control are identified in minimodules made by different manufacturers. Minimodules with UV-cutoff rear encapsulant show relatively better stability, whereas the ones with opaque rear encapsulant show greater power loss. In addition, GB having UV-cutoff rear encapsulation and GB with POE having opaque rear encapsulation were identified to be stable as they lack a best model fit. Here, the primary power loss mechanism in degrading variants is interconnect corrosion.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Signal sequences target enzymes and structural proteins to bacterial microcompartments and are critical for microcompartment formation

ABSTRACT Spatial organization of pathway enzymes has emerged as a promising tool to address several challenges in metabolic engineering, such as flux imbalances and off-target product formation. Bacterial microcompartments (MCPs) are a spatial organization strategy used natively by many bacteria to encapsulate metabolic pathways that produce toxic, volatile intermediates. Several recent studies have focused on engineering MCPs to encapsulate heterologous pathways of interest, but how this engineering affects MCP assembly and function is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the role of signal sequences, short domains that target proteins to the MCP core, in the assembly of 1,2-propanediol utilization (Pdu) MCPs. We characterized two novel Pdu signal sequences on the structural proteins PduM and PduB, which constitute the first report of metabolosome signal sequences on structural proteins rather than enzymes. We then explored the role of enzymatic and structural Pdu signal sequences on MCP assembly by deleting their encoding sequences from the genome alone and in combination. Deleting enzymatic signal sequences decreased the MCP formation, but this defect could be recovered in some cases by overexpressing genes encoding the knocked-out signal sequence fused to a heterologous protein. By contrast, deleting structural signal sequences caused similar defects to knocking out the genes encoding the full-length PduM and PduB proteins. Our results contribute to a growing understanding of how MCPs form and function in bacteria and provide strategies to mitigate assembly disruption when encapsulating heterologous pathways in MCPs. IMPORTANCE Spatially organizing biosynthetic pathway enzymes is a promising strategy to increase pathway throughput and yield. Bacterial microcompartments (MCPs) are proteinaceous organelles that many bacteria natively use as a spatial organization strategy to encapsulate niche metabolic pathways, providing significant metabolic benefits. Encapsulating heterologous pathways of interest in MCPs could confer these benefits to industrially relevant pathways. Here, we investigate the role of signal sequences, short domains that target proteins for encapsulation in MCPs, in the assembly of 1,2-propanediol utilization (Pdu) MCPs. We characterize two novel signal sequences on structural proteins, constituting the first Pdu signal sequences found on structural proteins rather than enzymes, and perform knockout studies to compare the impacts of enzymatic and structural signal sequences on MCP assembly. Our results demonstrate that enzymatic and structural signal sequences play critical but distinct roles in Pdu MCP assembly and provide design rules for engineering MCPs while minimizing disruption to MCP assembly.

Johnson, Elizabeth R. (ORCID:0000000179236881)↗

Development of 225Ac-doped biocompatible nanoparticles for targeted alpha therapy

Abstract Targeted alpha therapy (TAT) relies on chemical affinity or active targeting using radioimmunoconjugates as strategies to deliver α-emitting radionuclides to cancerous tissue. These strategies can be affected by transmetalation of the parent radionuclide by competing ions in vivo and the bond-breaking recoil energy of decay daughters. The retention of α-emitting radionuclides and the dose delivered to cancer cells are influenced by these processes. Encapsulating α-emitting radionuclides within nanoparticles can help overcome many of these challenges. Poly(lactic- co -glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles are a biodegradable and biocompatible delivery platform that has been used for drug delivery. In this study, PLGA nanoparticles are utilized for encapsulation and retention of actinium-225 ([ 225 Ac]Ac 3+ ). Encapsulation of [ 225 Ac]Ac 3+ within PLGA nanoparticles (Z ave = 155.3 nm) was achieved by adapting a double-emulsion solvent evaporation method. The encapsulation efficiency was affected by both the solvent conditions and the chelation of [ 225 Ac]Ac 3+ . Chelation of [ 225 Ac]Ac 3+ to a lipophilic 2,9-bis-lactam-1,10-phenanthroline ligand ([ 225 Ac]AcBLPhen) significantly decreased its release (< 2%) and that of its decay daughters (< 50%) from PLGA nanoparticles. PLGA nanoparticles encapsulating [ 225 Ac]AcBLPhen significantly increased the delivery of [ 225 Ac]Ac 3+ to murine (E0771) and human (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cells with a concomitant increase in cell death over free [ 225 Ac]Ac 3+ in solution. These results demonstrate that PLGA nanoparticles have potential as radionuclide delivery platforms for TAT to advance precision radiotherapy for cancer. In addition, this technology offers an alternative use for ligands with poor aqueous solubility, low stability, or low affinity, allowing them to be repurposed for TAT by encapsulation within PLGA nanoparticles. Graphical Abstract

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Conversion of Syngas and CO2 to Light Olefins using Multi-Functional Catalysts

This report describes our effort in developing a novel zeolite encapsulated metal nanoparticle catalyst for the conversion of syngas to light olefins. We have adopted a ligand assisted synthesis protocol in which first metal-amine was prepared using metal salts and suitable amine ligands. The stable metal-amine complex thus prepared was then used as the seed for the growth of zeolite in alkaline solution. We have optimized the synthesis condition as well as different amine ligand to identify the condition to obtain stable metal-amine complex. Upon synthesis of zeolite, metal particles are encapsulated inside the zeolite in a confined space. We have synthesized both Fe and Co catalyst inside silicalite and chabazite zeolite. Catalytic activity of these catalysts were evaluated for syngas conversion reaction and compared with a baseline catalyst. The activity trend of zeolite encapsulated catalyst show very different activity trend compared to the baseline catalyst. While a distribution of products with different carbon number was obtained with baseline catalyst, zeolite encapsulated catalyst show ethylene as the major product. While ~73% selectivity to C 2 -C 6 products were obtained with cahabazite encapsulated Fe catalyst, only 53% selectivity was obtained for the corresponding products with silica-alumina supported Fe catalyst. Not only higher selectivity, Fe-chabazite also produces only C 2 products (ethylene/ethane) while a distribution of products was obtained with Fe-SiAl catalyst. The significantly different reactivity associated with the chabazite encapsulated Fe catalyst was attributed to the confinement effect. We hypothesized that due to the small size of the pore, only ethylene was obtained as the product.

10 SYNTHETIC FUELS↗

Predictive Models and Novel Accelerated Tests for the Reliability of Cell Metallization in Photovoltaic Modules (Final Report)

Studies of metallization corrosion m photovoltaics have mainly been limited to comparisons of modules placed in accelerated chambers to fielded modules [1]. Damp Heat accelerated tests and phenomenological equations [2] are used to assess metallization corrosion without understanding the effect of UV light and temperature and humidity cycles on encapsulant adhesion degradation. The roles of encapsulant in-and out-diffusions of moisture and encapsulant impurities are important. Furthermore, few photovoltaic metallization corrosion studies included the role of bias and leakage currents, which are crucial in the electrochemical reaction of metallization. Leakage currents can highly accelerate the corrosion mechanism and are important to include in the studies of corrosion. In our research plan, we will address the following gaps in the PV community's understanding of metallization corrosion: (1) metallization corrosion with bias, humidity, and impurities in the encapsulant or metallization; (2) humidity diffusion through fresh and degraded encapsulants; and (3) comparison of model predictions with outdoor field modules and SunPower's extensive data for its back-contact and front-contact fleets [2] along with NREL's store of >20 year old modules. Our goal is to build models and accelerated tests to predict long term degradation of metallization corrosion of photovoltaic modules in the field. Our studies will include metals used in c-Si solar cells (Cu, Ag, and Al) and commonly used encapsulants (EV A (ethylene vinyl acetate), TPO (thermoplastic olefin), and silicone).

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Experiments and Simulations to Describe Alkalinity Release from Particle-Containing Oil-in-Water Emulsions and Particle Suspensions

Among the most common amendments added to groundwater during site remediation are compounds used to adjust or maintain the pH. This research describes an approach to encapsulate mineral particles (MgO and CaCO 3 ) within oil droplets suspended within an aqueous phase for the purpose of delivery to the subsurface environment. A series of batch experiments was combined with mathematical modeling to illustrate the encapsulation and understand the influence of particle encapsulation on rates and extents of alkalinity release. The encapsulation of the alkalinity-releasing particles results in slower rates of amendment release as compared to rates obtained using suspensions of bare mineral particles, allowing for the possibility of control as a function of the pH. The results indicate that the alkalinity release from particle suspensions followed a mineral dissolution mechanism that could not explain the rate of the alkalinity release of the encapsulated particles. The reduction in mineral dissolution rates observed with the encapsulated particles was found to result from a mass transfer limitation. This limitation was well described using a linear driving force expression to account for the resistance to mass transfer at the oil–water interface.

EVO↗

Tuning Strong Metal–Support Interactions via Synergistic Alloying

The encapsulation phenomenon associated with strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) has been largely restricted to catalyst systems consisting of group VIII metals with high surface energy and reducible transition metal oxide supports with low surface energy. Here, we demonstrate an encapsulation phenomenon that, while sharing morphological similarities with conventional SMSI, follows a distinctive pathway. This is shown by the encapsulation of CuAu nanoparticles (NPs) supported on highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). Through dynamic monitoring of Cu, Au, and Cu 50 Au 50 NPs in an oxidizing atmosphere using ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, we show that this spontaneous encapsulation is achieved through the synergistic effect of the alloying elements. Specifically, the surface segregation of Cu promotes dissociative O 2 adsorption, leading to the formation of atomic O species, while the subsurface enrichment of Au hinders O incorporation into the bulk of CuAu NPs. Consequently, O spillover onto the graphite support occurs, resulting in the oxidation of the HOPG surface into graphitic oxide species. The higher affinity of the graphitic oxide species toward the Cu-segregated surface prompts their migration from the HOPG support to encapsulate the CuAu NPs. Finally, these results transcend the conventional SMSI and bear practical implications for the design and development of heterogeneous catalysts, particularly in carbon-supported alloy systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗