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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 307 records · Page 17
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Parallel Plate Capacitor Aluminum KIDs for Future Far-Infrared Space-Based Observatories

Future space-based far-infrared astrophysical observatories will require exquisitely sensitive detectors consistent with the low optical backgrounds. The PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics (PRIMA) will deploy arrays of thousands of superconducting kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs) sensitive to radiation between 25 and 265 μm. Here, we present laboratory characterization of prototype, 25 – 80 μm wavelength, low-volume, aluminum KIDs designed for the low-background environment expected with PRIMA. A compact parallel plate capacitor is used to minimize the detector footprint and suppress TLS noise. A novel resonant absorber is designed to enhance response in the band of interest. We present noise and optical efficiency measurements of these detectors taken with a low background cryostat and a cryogenic blackbody. A microlens-hybridized KID array is found to be photon noise limited down to about 50 aW with a limiting detector NEP of about 6.5×10 −19 W/Hz 1/2 . A fit to an NEP model shows that our optical system is well characterized and understood down to 50 aW. We discuss future plans for low-volume aluminum KID array development as well as the testbeds used for these measurements.

Far-Infrared↗
NASA NTRS2015

NASA Engineering and Safety Center Technical Bulletin No. 15-01: Preventing Incorrect Installation of Polarized Capacitors

Even though NASA’s Lessons Learned Information System has an entry on the reverse installation of polarized capacitors, this error keeps reoccurring and is a “lesson not learned.” The purpose of this bulletin is to discuss some of the reasons this keeps happening as well as offer best practices to prevent this error in the future.

Preventing Incorrect Installation of Polarized Cap↗
NASA NTRS2026

Thermal Cycle and Capacitance Testing of Mezzo Industries Phase Changer Material Heat Capacitor

Effective Thermal management is essential for the safety and performance of human spacecraft, especially during long-duration missions with fluctuating heat loads. Phase Change Material (PCM) heat exchangers offer a compact, efficient solution by storing and releasing thermal energy through latent heat during phase transitions. This allows PCM systems to buffer transient thermal loads without immediate heat rejection, reducing the need for oversized radiators – particularly critical during ascent and re-entry when radiators are stowed. By maintaining stable temperatures in crew cabins and equipment bays, PCM technology enhances crew comfort, protects sensitive systems, and supports long-term mission sustainability with minimal mass and volume impact. A phase change material heat capacitor prototype, designed and built under a NASA Small Business Innovation Research grant by Mezzo Technologies, utilizes a laser welding microtube manufacturing process that promises increased reliability and performance over current manufacturing methods like brazing. This heat exchanger was tested through coolant thermal cycling within the expected flow rates and temperature range of the Orion spacecraft, the crewed spacecraft taking NASA astronauts to the moon under the Artemis Program. The useful heat storage capacitance was measured and compared to Orion spacecraft requirements.

Active Thermal Control Systems↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Thermal Cycle and Capacitance Testing of Mezzo Industries Phase Change Material Heat Capacitor

A phase change material heat capacitor prototype, designed and built under a NASA Small Business Innovation Research grant by Mezzo Technologies, was tested through coolant thermal cycling within the expected flow rates and temperature range of the Orion spacecraft’s propylene glycol-water mixture coolant system. Testing was performed with the phase change material contained under sealed conditions after a degassing procedure and exposed to atmosphere without prior degassing. The useful heat storage capacitance was measured and compared to Orion spacecraft requirements and theoretical N-Pentadecane storage capacity.

Propylene Glycol Water↗
DOE OSTI2025

Water sources and land capacitor effects stimulate observed summer Arctic moistening and warming

The primary sources of recent summer Arctic moistening trends in reanalysis are uncertain, hindering attribution of observed Arctic warming due to radiative effects from water vapor changes. Here, we use a combined online numerical water tracer and circulation nudging approach in the Community Earth System Model to track the sources of water vapor beyond its initial sources. Trends in boreal summer large-scale circulation have driven moistening of the Arctic over recent decades, having a large impact on the Arctic radiative budget, accounting for 94% of the strengthening water vapor radiative feedback. We identify two key regions supplying the Arctic water vapor feedback: Northeast North America and western/central Eurasia. In both regions, anticyclonic circulations over the southwest Atlantic and eastern Europe move moisture from the tropical oceans poleward to high latitude land through precipitation in winter and spring. During summer, evapotranspiration over land releases this water vapor, and it is transported by winds into the Arctic. We refer to this sequence of terrestrial moisture storage and release as the land capacitor effect. Thus, the impacts of circulation changes on poleward moisture transport and land-atmosphere interactions over high latitudes represent the underlying mechanisms of the recent moistening and warming in the Arctic.

Arctic amplification↗
DOE OSTI2026

Electrode chemistry impact on retention performance of ferroelectric hafnium zirconium oxide (Hf 0.5 Zr 0.5 O 2−x ) capacitors

Polarization retention of 10 nm thick ferroelectric hafnium zirconium oxide (Hf 0.5 Zr 0.5 O 2−x , HZO) capacitors with W and TaN electrodes is investigated over temperatures ranging from 85 to 150 °C. Same state and opposite state polarization margins for devices with W electrodes show minimal retention loss after 10 5 at 150 °C. The devices capped with TaN electrodes show excellent same state retention, but the opposite state polarization margin in the TaN-electrode devices displays 40% retention loss at 150 °C after 10 5 s. The TaN-capped devices exhibit a more pronounced imprint, which is attributed to an increased oxygen vacancy content (compared to W-capped devices). The increased oxygen vacancy content in the TaN-capped devices is supported by photoluminescence and leakage current measurements. In addition, TaN-capped devices have chemically diffuse electrode–HZO interfaces; more abrupt interfaces are present in the W-capped devices. The presence of interfacial phases in the TaN-capped devices may lead to larger depolarization fields due to reduced charge screening. The results from this study provide further evidence that for HZO ferroelectric devices the electrode can significantly impact polarization retention behavior due to differences in oxygen vacancy concentration and formation of non-ferroelectric interfacial layers.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

First Demonstration of Vertical 2T-nC FeRAM Hybrid Cell and its Scalability for High-Density 3D Ferroelectric Capacitor Memory

In this article, we perform a comprehensive experimental and modeling study into the scaling of vertical 2T-nC ferroelectric random-access memory (FeRAM) hybrid cell to demonstrate a high performance and high-density 3D capacitor memory. We demonstrate: i) first time successful integration of the vertical 2T-3C FeRAM cell by stacking the vertical metal-ferroelectricmetal (MFM) stack on top of Si CMOS transistors; ii) successful experimental operation of the memory cell, including the quasi-nondestructive read out (QNRO) of the polarization without write back after 106 read cycles; iii) the write bit line (WBL) heavily screens the coupling between neighboring strings, making it a minor concern; V ) aggressive stacking of the WBLs, i.e., number of MFMs in a string, could facilitate the self-boosting during write operation due to ferroelectric linear capacitance (CFE), which allows self-boosted inhibition for Vw/2 scheme and worsens the Vw/3 scheme as disturb increases to intolerable 2Vw/3; v) aggressive horizontal scaling significantly increases the read disturb to cells on neighboring planes due to capacitance between two WBLs (Cz).

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotubes Grown on Copper Foil as Electrodes for Electrochemical Double Layer Capacitors

This study reports a binder-free, catalyst-free method for fabricating vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) directly on copper (Cu) foil using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) for electrochemical double-layer capacitor (EDLC) applications. This approach eliminates the need for catalyst layers, polymeric binders, or substrate pre-treatments, simplifying electrode design and enhancing electrical integration. The resulting VACNTs form a dense, uniform, and porous array with strong adhesion to the Cu substrate, minimizing contact resistance and improving conductivity. Electrochemical analysis shows gravimetric specific capacitance (C grav ) and areal specific capacitance (C areal ) of 8 F g −1 and 3.5 mF cm −2 at a scan rate of 5 mV/s, with low equivalent series resistance (3.70 Ω) and charge transfer resistance (0.48 Ω), enabling efficient electron transport and rapid ion diffusion. The electrode demonstrates excellent rate capability and retains 92% of its initial specific capacitance after 3000 charge–discharge cycles, indicating strong cycling stability. These results demonstrate the potential of directly grown VACNT-based electrodes for high-performance EDLCs, particularly in applications requiring rapid charge–discharge cycles and sustained energy delivery.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
NASA NTRS1965

Coaxial capacitor used to determine fluid density

Sensing device measures directly the density of compressible fluid existing simultaneously in both liquid and gaseous phases. The device is comprised of a capacitor connected as one leg of a bridge circuit, a power source, and an indicator calibrated to indicate density as a direct measurement.

Atkisson, E. A.↗
NASA NTRS1967

Study made of dielectric properties of promising materials for cryogenic capacitors

Experimental investigations were conducted to determine dielectric properties of promising materials for cryogenic capacitors to be used in energy storage and pulse applications. The three classes of materials investigated were inorganic bonded ferroelectric materials, anodic coatings on metal foils, and polar low temperature liquids.

Mathes, K. N.↗
NASA NTRS1968

Improved process for making thin-film sodium niobate capacitors

Sodium niobate, formed by high vacuum, flash, and reactive evaporations, has a high dielectric constant and is used as a thin film dielectric in microelectronic capacitors. High purity films are formed from relatively inexpensive, pure starting materials. Crystalline sodium niobate films can be formed on amorphous or crystalline materials.

Micka, E. Z.↗