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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
DOE OSTI2015

Measurement of charm and beauty production at central rapidity versus charged-particle multiplicity in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=7 $ TeV

Prompt D meson and non-prompt J/ψ yields are studied as a function of the multiplicity of charged particles produced in inelastic proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of √s = 7 TeV. The results are reported as a ratio between yields in a given multiplicity interval normalised to the multiplicity-integrated ones (relative yields). They are shown as a function of the multiplicity of charged particles normalised to the average value for inelastic collisions (relative charged-particle multiplicity). D 0 , D + and D *+ mesons are measured in five p T intervals from 1 GeV/c to 20 GeV/c and for |y| < 0.5 via their hadronic decays. The D-meson relative yield is found to increase with increasing charged-particle multiplicity. For events with multiplicity six times higher than the average multiplicity of inelastic collisions, a yield enhancement of a factor about 15 relative to the multiplicity-integrated yield in inelastic collisions is observed. The yield enhancement is independent of transverse momentum within the uncertainties of the measurement. The D0-meson relative yield is also measured as a function of the relative multiplicity at forward pseudo-rapidity. The non-prompt J/ψ, i.e. the B hadron, contribution to the inclusive J/ψ production is measured in the di-electron decay channel at central rapidity. It is evaluated for p T > 1.3 GeV/c and |y| < 0.9, and extrapolated to p T > 0. The fraction of non-prompt J/ψ in the inclusive J/ψ yields shows no dependence on the charged-particle multiplicity at central rapidity. Charm and beauty hadron relative yields exhibit a similar increase with increasing charged-particle multiplicity. The measurements are compared to PYTHIA 8, EPOS 3 and percolation calculations.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2015

The fragile-to-strong dynamical crossover and the system viscoelasticity in attractive glass forming colloids

The dynamical arrest phenomena of an adhesive hard-sphere (AHS) colloid, L64-D 2O system has been investigated by using calorimetry and the complex shear modulus. This system is characterized by a rich temperature (T) and volume fraction ($\phi$) phase diagram with a percolation line (PT). According to the mode-coupling theory (MCT), a cusp-like singularity and two glassy phases, one attractive (AG) and one repulsive (RG), are supposed to coexist in the phase diagram. The MCT scaling laws used to study the shear viscosity with $\phi$ and T as control parameters propose the existence of fragile-to-strong dynamic crossover (FSDC) analogous to that observed in molecular supercooled liquid glass formers. The measured critical values of the control parameters, coincident with the PT line, where the clustering process generates the AG phase, define the FSDC locus. This is in agreement with the extended mode-coupling theory that takes into account both cage and inter-cluster hopping effects. Here, we demonstrate, by considering the frequency dependence of the complex moduli, that there is the onset of a system viscoelasticity as an effect of the clustering accompanying the FSDC. We will reveal as the measured frequency-dependent complex moduli satisfy the scaling relations predicted by the scalar elasticity percolation theory and well account for the system evolution toward the glass transition process.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Effect of the Milling Conditions on the Properties of ZnO Doped with Fe

(Zn{sub 0.9}Fe{sub 0.1})O powders were produced with different ball to powder weight ratios (BPR) by ball milling of ZnO and Fe elemental powders. The BPR used were 15:1, 20:1, 25:1, and 30:1. The prepared samples were studied by x-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and Mössbauer spectroscopy (MS). The XRD patterns showed a zinc oxide (ZnO) single phase with wurtzite structure, except for the 15:1 ratio, which exhibits an additionally bcc structure associated to α-Fe. The mean crystallite sizes were found to be around 100 Å. The Mössbauer spectra were fitted using two doublets, associated to the incorporation of Fe ions into the ZnO lattice, which correspond to the Fe{sup 3+} and Fe{sup 2+} oxidation states except for the 15:1 ratio, for which an additional sextet was necessary to obtain a good fit, this sextet was associated to segregated Fe into the sample. The increase of the BPR allowed that all Fe penetrated into the ZnO matrix. The magnetization measurement using VSM reveals that the system exhibits ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature. For sample with BPR 15:1, the ferromagnetism is due to the segregated Fe, and for higher BPRs, from 20:1 up to 30:1, we propose that their ferromagnetism is due to the percolation of polarons. These polarons appear due to the oxygen vacancies (detected by XRD) which are occupied by electrons, which appear in the charge balance. Exchange interaction between the electron spins located in the vacancies or holes and those of the magnetic impurities (Fe atoms) leads to the formation of bound magnetic polarons, which percolate, producing in this way magnetic behavior.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2018

Self-organized Segregation on the Grid

We consider an agent-based model with exponentially distributed waiting times in which two types of agents interact locally over a graph, and based on this interaction and on the value of a common intolerance threshold τ, decide whether to change their types. This is equivalent to a zero-temperature ising model with Glauber dynamics, an asynchronous cellular automaton with extended Moore neighborhoods, or a Schelling model of self-organized segregation in an open system, and has applications in the analysis of social and biological networks, and spin glasses systems. Some rigorous results were recently obtained in the theoretical computer science literature, and this work provides several extensions. We enlarge the intolerance interval leading to the expected formation of large segregated regions of agents of a single type from the known size ϵ>0 to size ≈0.134. Namely, we show that for 0.433<τ<1/2 (and by symmetry 1/2<τ<0.567), the expected size of the largest segregated region containing an arbitrary agent is exponential in the size of the neighborhood. We further extend the interval leading to expected large segregated regions to size ≈0.312 considering “almost segregated” regions, namely regions where the ratio of the number of agents of one type and the number of agents of the other type vanishes quickly as the size of the neighborhood grows. In this case, we show that for 0.344<τ≤0.433 (and by symmetry for 0.567≤τ<0.656) the expected size of the largest almost segregated region containing an arbitrary agent is exponential in the size of the neighborhood. This behavior is reminiscent of supercritical percolation, where small clusters of empty sites can be observed within any sufficiently large region of the occupied percolation cluster. The exponential bounds that we provide also imply that complete segregation, where agents of a single type cover the whole grid, does not occur with high probability for p=1/2 and the range of intolerance considered.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2014

Visualizations of coherent center domains in local Polyakov loops

Quantum Chromodynamics exhibits a hadronic confined phase at low to moderate temperatures and, at a critical temperature T{sub C}, undergoes a transition to a deconfined phase known as the quark–gluon plasma. The nature of this deconfinement phase transition is probed through visualizations of the Polyakov loop, a gauge independent order parameter. We produce visualizations that provide novel insights into the structure and evolution of center clusters. Using the HMC algorithm the percolation during the deconfinement transition is observed. Using 3D rendering of the phase and magnitude of the Polyakov loop, the fractal structure and correlations are examined. The evolution of the center clusters as the gauge fields thermalize from below the critical temperature to above it are also exposed. We observe deconfinement proceeding through a competition for the dominance of a particular center phase. We use stout-link smearing to remove small-scale noise in order to observe the large-scale evolution of the center clusters. A correlation between the magnitude of the Polyakov loop and the proximity of its phase to one of the center phases of SU(3) is evident in the visualizations. - Highlights: • We produce visualizations of center clusters in Polyakov loops. • The evolution of center clusters with HMC simulation time is examined. • Visualizations provide novel insights into the percolation of center clusters. • The magnitude and phase of the Polyakov loop are studied. • A correlation between the magnitude and center phase proximity is evident.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2021

Microstructure and water absorption of ancient concrete from Pompeii: An integrated synchrotron microtomography and neutron radiography characterization

There is renewed interest in using advanced techniques to characterize ancient Roman concrete due to its exceptional durability and low-carbon footprint. In the present work, samples were drilled from the “Hospitium” in Pompeii and were analyzed by synchrotron microtomography (μCT) and neutron radiography to study how the microstructure, including the presence of induced cracks, affects their water adsorption. The water distribution and absorptivity were quantified by neutron radiography. The 3D crack propagation, pore size distribution and orientation, tortuosity, and connectivity were analyzed from μCT results using advanced imaging methods. Porosity was also measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) as a reference. Ductile fracture patterns were observed once cracks were introduced. Compared to Portland cement mortar/concrete, the Pompeii samples had relatively high porosity, low connectivity, and a similar coefficient of capillary penetration. In addition, permeability was predicted from models based on percolation theory and pore structure data to evaluate the fluid transport properties. Understanding the microstructure of ancient Pompeii concrete is important because it could inspire the development of modern concrete with high durability.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Distinctive rheological and temporal viscoelastic behaviour of alkali-activated fly ash/slag pastes: A comparative study with cement paste

This paper presents the results of the investigation on the fundamental differences in the viscoelasticity between alkali-activated fly ash/slag materials (AAMs) and cement pastes. The effects of the precursor and the activator on the rheological behaviour of AAM pastes were studied. Given the specific precursor, the activator viscosity significantly affected the AAM paste viscosity. The high viscous activator increased the plastic viscosity of AAM pastes by 4–8 times higher than that of cement paste and drastically decreased the yield stress due to viscous effects and weak colloidal interactions. Temporal changes in viscoelasticity showed that the negligible colloidal interactions between particles in AAM paste made the system non-percolated until the initial setting. This resulted in very different viscoelastic behaviour compared to the one from the well-percolated network in cement paste. Considering all results obtained in this study, the paper describes the short-term evolution of the AAM paste from the fresh condition to the initial setting.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Advective gas flow in bentonite: Development and comparison of enhanced multi-phase numerical approaches

Understanding the impact of repository gas, generated from degradation of waste and its interaction with the host rock, is essential when assessing the performance and safety function of long-term disposal systems for radioactive waste. Numerical models based on conventional multi-phase flow theory have historically been applied to predict the outcome and impact of gas flow on different repository components. However, they remain unable to describe the full complexity of the physical processes observed in water-saturated experiments (e.g., creation of dilatant pathways) and thus, the development of novel representations for their description is required when assessing fully saturated clay-based systems. This was the primary focus of Task A within the international cooperative project DECOVALEX-2019 (D-2019) and refinement of these approaches is the primary focus of this study (Task B in the current phase of DECOVALEX-2023). This paper summarises development of enhanced numerical representations of key processes and compares the performance of each model against high-quality laboratory test data. Experimental data reveals that gas percolation in water-saturated compacted bentonite is characterised by four key features: (i) a quiescence phase, followed by (ii) the gas breakthrough, which leads to a (iii) peak value, which is then followed by (iv) a negative decay. Three models based on the multiphase flow theory have been developed. These models can provide good initial values and reasonable responses for gas breakthrough (although some of them still predict a too-smooth response). Peak gas pressure values are in general reasonably well captured, although maximum radial stress differences are observed at 48 mm from the base of the sample. Here, numerical peak values of 12.8 MPa are predicted, whereas experimental values are about 11 MPa. These models are also capable of providing a reasonable representation of the negative pressure decay following peak pressure. However, other key specific features (such as the timing of gas breakthrough) still require a better representation. The model simulations and their comparison with experimental data show that these models need to be further improved with respect to model parameter calibration, the numerical representation of spatial heterogeneities in material properties and flow localisation, and the upscaling of the related physical processes and parameters. To further understand gas flow localisation, a new conceptual model has been developed, which shows that discrete channels can possibly be induced through the instability of gas-bentonite interface during gas injection, thus providing a new perspective for modeling gas percolation in low-permeability deformable media.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2012

Low temperature charge transport and microwave absorption of carbon coated iron nanoparticles–polymer composite films

Highlights: ► Carbon coated Fe nanoparticle–PVC composite films were prepared by solution casting method. ► A low electrical percolation threshold of 2.2 was achieved. ► The low temperature electrical conductivity follows variable range hopping type conduction. ► An EMI shielding of 18 dB was achieved in 200 micron thick film. -- Abstract: In this paper, the low temperature electrical conductivity and microwave absorption properties of carbon coated iron nanoparticles–polyvinyl chloride composite films are investigated for different filler fractions. The filler particles are prepared by the pyrolysis of ferrocene at 980 °C and embedded in polyvinyl chloride matrix. The high resolution transmission electron micrographs of the filler material have shown a 5 nm thin layer graphitic carbon covering over iron particles. The room temperature electrical conductivity of the composite film changes by 10 orders of magnitude with the increase of filler concentration. A percolation threshold of 2.2 and an electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency (EMI SE) of ∼18.6 dB in 26.5–40 GHz range are observed for 50 wt% loading. The charge transport follows three dimensional variable range hopping conduction.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2013

Comprehensive methods to enhance the electrochemical performances of LiFe{sub 0.94}Mg{sub 0.03}Cu{sub 0.03}PO{sub 4}/C cathode for lithium ion batteries

Graphical abstract: Relationships between the conductivities of LFPC-2 cathode and the volume percentages of AB (a) and PAn (b). - Highlights: • LiFe{sub 0.94}Mg{sub 0.03}Cu{sub 0.03}PO{sub 4}/C is synthesized by adding glucose with two-step method. • Conductive polymer polyaniline is used to replace acetylene black. • The content of conductive additive is optimized by the percolation theory. • LFPC-2 cathode containing polyaniline possesses the excellent performance. - Abstract: Comprehensive methods were utilized to improve the electrochemical performances of LiFe{sub 0.94}Mg{sub 0.03}Cu{sub 0.03}PO{sub 4}/C (LFPC) composite cathode. Experimental results show that LFPC-2, prepared by adding glucose in two steps, possesses the effective incorporated of doping ions and well-distributed pyrolysis carbon. It possesses higher conductivity and discharge capacity. The percolation theory analysis shows that the conductivity of LFPC-2 cathode film reaches its maximum value at the mass content of 15 wt.%. The replacement of acetylene black with polyaniline can greatly improve the electrochemical performances of LFPC-2 cathode. Its discharge capacity is 85.3 mAh g{sup −1} and its potential platform is as high as 3.2 V at the current density of 850 mA g{sup −1} when 15 wt.% polyaniline is used. The cycle performance of LFPC-2 is improved when polyaniline is used as conductive additives. And the change of charge transfer resistance of LFPC-2 cathode containing polyaniline is very small after 24 cycles.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Origin of enhanced performance when Mn-rich rocksalt cathodes transform to δ -DRX

Most Mn-rich cathodes are known to undergo phase transformation into structures resembling spinel-like ordering upon electrochemical cycling. Recently, the irreversible transformation of Ti-containing Mn-rich disordered rock-salt cathodes into a phase — named δ — with nanoscale spinel-like domains has been shown to increase energy density, capacity retention, and rate capability. However, the nature of the boundaries between domains and their relationship with composition and electrochemistry are not well understood. In this work, we discuss how the transformation into the multi-domain structure results in eight variants of Spinel domains, which is crucial for explaining the nanoscale domain formation in the δ -phase. We study the energetics of crystallographically unique boundaries and the possibility of Li-percolation across them with a fine-tuned CHGNet machine learning interatomic potential. Energetics of 16 d vacancies reveal a strong affinity to segregate to the boundaries, thereby opening Li-pathways at the boundary to enhance long-range Li-percolation in the δ structure. Defect calculations of the relatively low-mobility Ti show how it can influence the extent of Spinel ordering, domain morphology and size significantly; leading to guidelines for engineering electrochemical performance through changes in composition.

Anand, Shashwat↗
DOE OSTI2025

Unraveling the pathway towards superionic transport in polymer electrolytes

Ionic transport in polymers is critical for Li-ion batteries, fuel cells, flow batteries and many other energy storage and conversion technologies. A significant enhancement of ion conductivity in polymers may be achieved through an increase in the polarity of side chains and their self-organization into specific morphologies, which can potentially act as percolated ionic structures. However, higher polarity increases attractive interactions within a polymer matrix and slows down its segmental dynamics, which conversely hinders ionic transport. To overcome this tradeoff, we designed the functionalization of a Li salt-doped polymer matrix by tailored amounts of zwitterionic (ZI) groups. Our results suggest the emergence of a self-assembled percolation conductivity regime above a specific ZI concentration, in which ion hopping decouples from segmental dynamics by up to ten orders of magnitude. Consequently, in the highly concentrated ZI regime, our polymeric materials exhibit in their glassy state energy barriers for ion hopping similar to, or even smaller than, those reported for superionic ceramics. Our study also reveals that ion dynamics in the poly(zwitterion) with all monomers carrying ZI groups is significantly faster than that of a monomeric ZI compound, although the latter has much faster structural relaxation. Furthermore, this result highlights the crucial role played by the local morphology on the ion transport of polymer electrolytes and opens a new pathway for the design of superionic polymers, significantly expanding the current limited portfolio of solid-state electrolytes for energy applications.

Ion conductivity↗
DOE OSTI2025

Larger than uncorrelated vacancy diffusion contributions in chemically disordered crystalline materials

Arising from a variational approach to compute diffusion coefficients, we introduce “superkinetic kinosons”, which are contributions to the diffusion flux of mobile defects and atomic species by single jump mechanisms that can exceed their uncorrelated values. In vacancy-mediated diffusion in crystalline random and high entropy materials, these contributions primarily arise from intermittent jumps of slow moving atoms that remove the vacancy out of correlation traps and enable a quantification of such effects on the diffusion coefficients. They can be significant contributors to diffusion, even when faster moving atoms have infinite percolation networks. Furthermore, their existence and importance provide fundamental insights about underlying aspects of vacancy diffusion such as formation of localized correlation traps and deviation of vacancy diffusion from percolation behavior.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Fluorine-Free Precise Polymer Electrolyte for Efficient Proton Transport: Experiments and Simulations

Designing polymers with controlled nanoscale morphologies and scalable synthesis is of great interest in the development of fluorine-free materials for proton-exchange membranes in fuel cells. This study focuses on a precision polyethylene with phenylsulfonic acid branches at every fifth carbon, p5PhSA, with a high ion-exchange capacity (4.2 mmol/g). The polymers self-assemble into hydrophilic and hydrophobic co-continuous nanoscale domains. In the hydrated state, the hydrophilic domain, composed of polar sulfonic acid moieties and water, serves as a pathway for efficient mesoscopic proton conductivity. The morphology and proton transport of p5PhSA are evaluated under hydrated conditions using in situ X-ray scattering and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. Additionally, at 40 °C and 95% relative humidity, the proton conductivity of p5PhSA is 0.28 S/cm, which is four times greater than Nafion 117 under the same conditions. Atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are also used to elucidate the interplay between the structure and the water dynamics. The MD simulations show strong nanophase separation between the percolated hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains over a wide range of water contents. The percolated hydrophilic nanoscale domain facilitates the rapid proton transport in p5PhSA and demonstrates the potential of precise hydrocarbon-based polymers as processible and effective proton-exchange membranes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Influence of Inversion on Mg Mobility and Electrochemistry in Spinels

Magnesium oxide and sulfide spinels have recently attracted interest as cathode and electrolyte materials for energy-dense Mg batteries, but their observed electrochemical performance depends strongly on synthesis conditions. In this study, using first-principles calculations and percolation theory, we explore the extent to which spinel inversion influences Mg 2+ ionic mobility in MgMn 2 O 4 as a prototypical cathode, and MgIn 2 S 4 as a potential solid electrolyte. We find that spinel inversion and the resulting changes of the local cation ordering give rise to both increased and decreased Mg 2+ migration barriers, along specific migration pathways, in the oxide as well as the sulfide. To quantify the impact of spinel inversion on macroscopic Mg 2+ transport, we determine the percolation thresholds in both MgMn 2 O 4 and MgIn 2 S 4 . Furthermore, we analyze the impact of inversion on the electrochemical properties of the MgMn 2 O 4 cathode via changes in the phase behavior, average Mg insertion voltages and extractable capacities, at varying degrees of inversion. In conclusion, our results confirm that inversion is a major performance limiting factor of Mg spinels and that synthesis techniques or compositions that stabilize the well-ordered spinel structure are crucial for the success of Mg spinels in multivalent batteries.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Kinetic Monte Carlo Framework for Coupled Degradation and Dehydration of Anion Exchange Membranes

Kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) simulations, augmented with temporal-acceleration schemes, can efficiently handle stiff reaction-transport networks when fast processes rapidly relax to quasi-equilibrium on a fixed lattice. However, in glassy anion-exchange membranes (AEM), rare and irreversible chemical degradation events continuously reshape the nanoscale morphology, and the associated hydration and transport degrees of freedom remain far from a well-defined local equilibrium. This combination of evolving state space and nonequilibrated fast dynamics lies outside the scope of existing kMC acceleration frameworks. Here, to address this challenge, we introduce an auxiliary-particle kinetic Monte Carlo (AP-kMC) scheme. In AP-kMC, short-lived mobile particles spawned at degradation sites execute hop, water-elimination, and decay moves, enforcing rapid local relaxation of the hydration structure while preserving the stochastic rules of kMC. Parameterized with molecular-dynamics morphologies and experimental solution degradation kinetics, AP-kMC reproduces the evolution of ion-exchange capacity, water uptake, and conductivity, and reveals a feedback loop in which poorly hydrated sites degrade first and each degradation event induces further local dehydration. The resulting thinning and fragmentation of water channels cause loss of hydrophilic percolation and abrupt conductivity collapse well before complete charge loss. AP-kMC thus reframes AEM durability as a coupled degradation–drying–percolation problem and provides a transferable strategy to simulate reactive, out-of-equilibrium polymer electrolytes where local solvation controls reactivity.

organic↗
DOE OSTI2024

Vacancy-Mediated Increases in Brine–Salt Surface Energies

Salt formations have been explored for the permanent isolation of spent nuclear fuel based on their high thermal conductivity, self-healing nature, and low hydraulic permeability to brine flow. Vacancy defect concentrations in salt complicate fracture mechanics not driven by dislocation dynamics and can influence the resulting surface structure. Classical molecular dynamic simulations were used to simulate tensile testing of salt crystals (halite) with vacancy defect concentrations of up to 0.5 defects/nm 3 . Increasing defect concentrations resulted in a decrease in ultimate tensile strength and fracture surface energies, driven by increased surface roughness rather than changes in the amount of surface area. Brine–salt surface energies of the fractured surfaces were 0.22 to 0.26 J/m 2 , significantly higher than values reported for atomically flat (100) surfaces at the same brine composition. This change in surface energy increased the brine–salt dihedral angle by ~27°. The dihedral angle threshold for percolation in salt is 60°, and a 27° increase due to rough fracture surfaces identifies a reduction in porosity percolation and a decrease in salt permeability. Therefore, bedded salt and salt domes may be even more stable than those previously predicted from dihedral angle calculations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗