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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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1,662 records · Page 16
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Material efficiency technologies in the food and beverage industry

The U.S. food and beverage (F&B) sector is a major contributor to manufacturing gross domestic product and supports substantial employment and economic activity, while exerting significant pressures on land and water resources. At the same time, the industry faces growing expectations to balance its resource-intensive operations without compromising cost competitiveness. Material inefficiencies across the F&B value chain, particularly in raw material use and product loss/waste, lead to substantial financial losses and resource depletion. Thus, the F&B sector requires adoption of solutions and measures to avoid food wastage, reduce raw material consumption and valorize waste to high-value added products. This work presents a comprehensive understanding of the various technology solutions available for the F&B sector. The following two research questions are addressed: “What are the mid-to-high Technology Readiness Level technologies or measures to reduce material use and enable waste valorization in the F&B sector? What are the barriers to their commercial deployment? Additionally, what targeted research and development efforts are needed to overcome these barriers and accelerate their scale-up?” The findings are intended to support evidence-based decision-making, guide strategic investment, and help stakeholders strengthen resilience and competitiveness across the F&B sector.

Nain, Preeti [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000258358959)↗
DOE OSTI2024

Spectroscopy in Nanoscopic Cavities: Models and Recent Experiments

The ability of nanophotonic cavities to confine and store light to nanoscale dimensions has important implications for enhancing molecular, excitonic, phononic, and plasmonic optical responses. Spectroscopic signatures of processes that are ordinarily exceedingly weak such as pure absorption and Raman scattering have been brought to the single-particle limit of detection, while new emergent polaritonic states of optical matter have been realized through coupling material and photonic cavity degrees of freedom across a wide range of experimentally accessible interaction strengths. In this review, we discuss both optical and electron beam spectroscopies of cavity-coupled material systems in weak, strong, and ultrastrong coupling regimes, providing a theoretical basis for understanding the physics inherent to each while highlighting recent experimental advances and exciting future directions.

Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2024

Fast, Nondestructive and Precise Biomass Measurements Are Possible Using Lidar-Based Convex Hull and Voxelization Algorithms

Light detection and ranging (lidar) scanning tools are available that can make rapid digital estimations of biomass. Voxelization and convex hull are two algorithms used to calculate the volume of the scanned plant canopy, which is correlated with biomass, often the primary trait of interest. Voxelization splits the scans into regular-sized cubes, or voxels, whereas the convex hull algorithm creates a polygon mesh around the outermost points of the point cloud and calculates the volume within that mesh. In this study, digital estimates of biomass were correlated against hand-harvested biomass for field-grown corn, broom corn, and energy sorghum. Voxelization (r = 0.92) and convex hull (r = 0.95) both correlated well with plant dry biomass. Lidar data were also collected in a large breeding trial with nearly 900 genotypes of energy sorghum. In contrast to the manual harvest studies, digital biomass estimations correlated poorly with yield collected from a forage harvester for both voxel count (r = 0.32) and convex hull volume (r = 0.39). However, further analysis showed that the coefficient of variation (CV, a measure of variability) for harvester-based estimates of biomass was greater than the CV of the voxel and convex-hull-based biomass estimates, indicating that poor correlation was due to harvester imprecision, not digital estimations. Overall, results indicate that the lidar-based digital biomass estimates presented here are comparable or more precise than current approaches.

Environmental Sciences & Ecology↗
DOE OSTI2026

Nuclear Structure and Decay Data for A=35 Isobars

Here, this work presents a comprehensive and critical evaluation of experimental nuclear spectroscopic data from reactions and decays for all 11 known nuclides with mass number 35 (Ne, Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, Ar, K, Ca). Recommended values are produced for level energies, spins and parities, half-lives, and radiation properties including energies, branching ratios, and multipolarities of γ rays, as well as characteristics of β radiation decays, based on a rigorous assessment of all available experimental data. Discrepancies among existing results are carefully addressed. This work supersedes earlier full evaluations of A=35 published by 2011Ch48, 1990En08 (also 1998En04 update) and 1978En02.

Sun, Lijie [Michigan State University, East Lansin↗
DOE OSTI2023

Atomic Dynamics of Multi‐Interfacial Migration and Transformations

Redox-induced interconversions of metal oxidation states typically result in multiple phase boundaries that separate chemically and structurally distinct oxides and suboxides. Directly probing such multi-interfacial reactions is challenging because of the difficulty in simultaneously resolving the multiple reaction fronts at the atomic scale. Using the example of CuO reduction in H 2 gas, a reaction pathway of CuO → monoclinic m-Cu 4 O 3 → Cu 2 O is demonstrated and identifies interfacial reaction fronts at the atomic scale, where the Cu 2 O/m-Cu 4 O 3 interface shows a diffuse-type interfacial transformation; while the lateral flow of interfacial ledges appears to control the m-Cu 4 O 3 /CuO transformation. Together with atomistic modeling, it is shown that such a multi-interface transformation results from the surface-reaction-induced formation of oxygen vacancies that diffuse into deeper atomic layers, thereby resulting in the formation of the lower oxides of Cu 2 O and m-Cu 4 O 3 , and activate the interfacial transformations. In conclusion, these results demonstrate the lively dynamics at the reaction fronts of the multiple interfaces and have substantial implications for controlling the microstructure and interphase boundaries by coupling the interplay between the surface reaction dynamics and the resulting mass transport and phase evolution in the subsurface and bulk.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Reflection and refraction of directrons at the interface

Reflection and refraction are ubiquitous phenomena with extensive applications, yet minimizing energy loss and information distortion during these processes remains a significant challenge. This study examines the behavior of structurally stable solitons, known as directrons, in nematic liquid crystals interacting with an interface where the director field orientation changes, despite identical physical properties, external potentials, and boundary anchoring in the two regions. During reflection and refraction, the directrons maintain nearly constant structure and velocity, ensuring energy conservation and information integrity. Microscopic analyses of the director field and macroscopic evaluations of effective potential are employed to elucidate the dependence of reflection and refraction probabilities on the directron’s incident angle and the orientation difference across the interface. The findings provide valuable insights into the dynamics of solitary waves in structured liquid crystal systems, offering significant implications for the development of tunable photonic devices, reconfigurable optical systems, and nanoscale material engineering.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗
DOE OSTI2023

Spatiotemporal Studies of Soluble Inorganic Nanostructures with X‐rays and Neutrons

This Review addresses the use of X-ray and neutron scattering as well as X-ray absorption to describe how inorganic nanostructured materials assemble, evolve, and function in solution. We first provide an overview of techniques and instrumentation (both large user facilities and benchtop). We review recent studies of soluble inorganic nanostructure assembly, covering the disciplines of materials synthesis, processes in nature, nuclear materials, and the widely applicable fundamental processes of hydrophobic interactions and ion pairing. Reviewed studies cover size regimes and length scales ranging from sub-Ångström (coordination chemistry and ion pairing) to several nanometers (molecular clusters, i.e. polyoxometalates, polyoxocations, and metal-organic polyhedra), to the mesoscale (supramolecular assembly processes). Reviewed studies predominantly exploit 1) SAXS/WAXS/SANS (small- and wide-angle X-ray or neutron scattering), 2) PDF (pair-distribution function analysis of X-ray total scattering), and 3) XANES and EXAFS (X-ray absorption near-edge structure and extended X-ray absorption fine structure, respectively). While the scattering techniques provide structural information, X-ray absorption yields the oxidation state in addition to the local coordination. Our goal for this Review is to provide information and inspiration for the inorganic/materials science communities that may benefit from elucidating the role of solution speciation in natural and synthetic processes.

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

Working Fluid Characterization and Performance Assessment of Subcritical Organic Rankine Cycles Based on the Lee–Kesler Approach for Energy Recovery

Here, a generalized model using the Lee–Kesler approach based on the corresponding states principle is developed to assess the performance of subcritical Organic Rankine Cycles operating with different working fluids. Each fluid is characterized by five parameters: the acentric factor, critical temperature, critical pressure, molar mass, and the ideal-gas ratio of specific heats at the critical temperature. The model was developed using the compressibility factor modified version of the Benedict–Webb–Rubin equation proposed by Lee and Kesler and the enthalpy and entropy functions to calculate thermodynamic state properties. The model was validated by comparing the results calculated with the model and working fluid thermodynamic properties obtained with the CoolProp database. This comparison was conducted for 91 working fluids, obtaining a relative error below 5% for 88 out of the 91 fluids (∼97%). A generalized parametric study was conducted to determine the influence of the pinch point and each fluid parameter on the performance of Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) systems. It was found that efficiency increases with critical temperature, ideal-gas ratio of specific heats at the critical temperature, and acentric factor, reaching up to 13%. The developed model enables the evaluation of ORC system performance for existing working fluids. It also allows the formulation and evaluation of new fluids to enhance the performance of the ORC while retrieving energy from any kind of source; and likewise, the methodology can be applied to other power generation cycles.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2023

Long‐Life Lithium‐Metal Batteries with an Ultra‐High‐Nickel Cathode and Electrolytes with Bi‐Anion Activity

Abstract Anion chemistry in electrolytes can greatly dictate the nature and quality of passivation layers on both cathode and anode surfaces. This will be more significant when it comes to highly reactive Li‐metal anode and aggressive high‐nickel cathodes. Herein, a competitive bi‐anion activity is found in electrolytes with the co‐existence of two anions, which leads to a controlled Li‐salt decomposition kinetics and entirely favorable interphasial chemistry on both Li‐metal anode and ultrahigh‐nickel cathode. The proposed bi‐anion localized high‐concentration electrolytes are demonstrated to exhibit superior electrochemical compatibility toward Li metal and long‐term cycling stabilities under both 4.4 and 4.6 V in Li‐metal batteries with ultrahigh‐nickel cathode. This study sheds fresh light on dendrite‐free Li‐metal anodes and provides guidance to achieve high‐energy‐density batteries.

Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2026

Feedstock Choices for Advancing the Bioeconomy in the US and Policy Implications

Biomass feedstocks will be critical for scaling up the bioeconomy in the United States to meet multiple demands for biofuels, sustainable aviation fuel, bioproducts, and biochemicals. There is a wide range of choices of feedstocks, including a variety of dedicated energy crops and crop residues. There are substantial differences in the yields, costs of production, and carbon intensity of these feedstocks and for each feedstock across locations. These feedstocks also differ in the trade-offs they offer among multiple environmental impacts. We discuss the economic factors that will influence the production of these feedstocks and the implications of alternative biofuel and low-carbon policies for the mix of feedstocks that will be incentivized.

Khanna, Madhu (ORCID:0000000349944451)↗
DOE OSTI2025

On-chip terahertz emission from Floquet-Bloch states [Invited]

Floquet engineering uses time-periodic electromagnetic fields to modify the electronic properties of quantum materials via the creation of Floquet-Bloch states. These photon-dressed states inherit features from both the material and the driving field, enabling the exploration and control of quantum phenomena in light-matter hybrid systems. In non-centrosymmetric materials, shift currents can arise from the quantum geometric properties of electronic wavefunctions. However, shift currents from Floquet-Bloch states remain experimentally unexplored. Here, we employ an on-chip optoelectronic circuit to detect intrinsic terahertz emission from Floquet-Bloch states in T d -WTe 2 under intense optical driving. We observe strong edge-localized terahertz emission that scales linearly with the driving field, consistent with the theoretical prediction for shift currents generated by Floquet-Bloch states. The results advance our understanding of strongly driven quantum materials and provide insights for developing efficient, bias-free terahertz sources for future optoelectronic technologies.

Li, Xinyu [Max Planck Institute for the Structure ↗
DOE OSTI2026

Equilibrium and non-equilibrium effects in high pressure phase transformations of carbon

The behavior of carbon in the range 1–100 GPa and 1–10 kK is central to problems in planetary interiors, inertial confinement fusion targets, and high-pressure synthesis of carbon-based materials, but experiments in this regime are difficult and often provide only indirect constraints on phase behavior. As a result, phase boundary loci, structure, and limits of metastability at high pressure remain uncertain. In this work, machine-learning enhanced atomistic simulations are used to address this knowledge gap. We determine the melt line up to 100 GPa, the graphite-diamond phase boundary up to the melt line, and analyze structure of the coexisting phases. We show that the coexisting liquid evolves smoothly with pressure without evidence for a first-order liquid–liquid transition. Orientation-resolved graphite melting simulations indicate that basal-plane interfaces develop a dewetting layer and undergo layer-by-layer melting, producing kinetic hysteresis and an apparent orientation dependence of the melt line. Non-equilibrium quenches from the melt are used to construct a kinetically limiting graphite–diamond phase boundary for rapid quenches from above the melt line, and show that graphite is metastable at pressures of up to ≈ 25 GPa. These results provide bounds on equilibrium and metastable behavior in carbon relevant for interpreting high-pressure experiments and for designing synthesis pathways to specific carbon microstructures.

Lyu, Yanjun [Department of Materials Science and E↗
DOE OSTI2026

Optical Vibrational Spectroscopic Investigation of Natural and Synthetic Analogs of Uranyl Oxyhydroxyhydrate Minerals

Uranyl oxy-hydroxy-hydrate minerals are common alteration products of uraninite (UO2+x) which is chemically and structurally analogous to uranium dioxide nuclear fuel. Therefore, structural and spectroscopic investigations of these alteration minerals and their analogous anthropogenic counterparts can provide insight into the environmental behavior of nuclear fuel cycle materials. Previously, we compiled available vibrational spectroscopic data for uranyl minerals in the Compendium of Uranium Raman and Infrared Experimental Spectra (CURIES) and found that only 37% of known uranyl oxy-hydroxy-hydrate minerals had spectra readily available in the literature and existing databases for inclusion therein. Furthermore, no available infrared spectra for this mineral group were included in CURIES. To expand our understanding of the spectroscopic features of uranyl oxy-hydroxy-hydrates and the structural origins thereof, we collected, and now include in CURIES, Raman and infrared spectra for an additional 12 uranyl hydroxide phases. To better understand the impact of structural and compositional variations of these phases on their spectroscopic features, we compare Raman spectra of different anion sheet topological groups and of analogous phases hosting different counter cations. We identify spectroscopic variations related to differences in equatorial bonding and structural changes as a result of cation substitution. We also prepare a uranyl hydroxide phase via hydrolysis of uranyl fluoride (UO2F2) as an analog of hydrolysis reactions that occur in nuclear fuel cycle materials; and we find that the alteration product of UO2F2, despite chemical and structural similarities to uranyl oxy-hydroxy-hydrate minerals, is readily distinguishable from related mineral phases using Raman spectroscopy. In this work, we provide new insights into the structural origins of spectroscopic features in uranyl oxy-hydroxy-hydrate minerals, improve the average Raman spectrum for this group of minerals, and thereby improve capabilities for identifying these mineral species and related anthropogenic phases using Raman spectroscopy.

Barth, Brodie [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000256142601)↗