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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 343 records · Page 19
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Rapid Screening of Single-Atom Catalyst Synthesis Conditions Using ToF-SIMS and Facet-Dependent Single-Crystal Substrates

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) offer superior catalytic performance compared to traditional nanoparticle catalysts but are challenging to develop because of the need for extensive optimization and specialized characterization techniques. Here, this study presents a rapid and versatile method for detecting synthesis conditions and elucidating deposition mechanisms of SACs on various substrates. By depositing active elements (Au, Cu, Ni and Rh) on facet-specific single-crystalline substrates (CeO 2 , TiO 2 , MgO and Al 2 O 3 ) and employing time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS), we assessed facet-dependent deposition behaviors and identified optimal conditions for solution-based SAC synthesis. On CeO 2 and TiO 2 , we confirmed facet-dependent deposition, primarily influenced by oxygen vacancy density and photocatalytic activity, respectively. MgO exhibited the formation of metal oxide/hydroxide clusters for all active elements, and the degree of clustering for Cu and Ni was correlated with the facet hydrolysis susceptibility. Notably, Au and Rh deposition on MgO was facet-independent, attributed to the formation of hydroxide species in solution. Al 2 O 3 , due to its chemical stability and lack of surface defects, did not show active element deposition. This study not only provides a time and cost-efficient method for prescreening SAC synthesis conditions, but it also provides valuable insights into the various deposition mechanisms governing SAC formation on different substrates, paving the way for the rational design of tailored SACs for various catalytic applications.

ToF-SIMS↗
NASA NTRS2012

A Comparison of Candidate Seal Designs for Future Docking Systems

NASA is developing a new docking system to support future space exploration missions to low Earth orbit, the Moon, and other destinations. A key component of this system is the seal at the main docking interface which inhibits the loss of cabin air once docking is complete. Depending on the mission, the seal must be able to dock in either a seal-on-flange or seal-on-seal configuration. Seal-on-flange mating would occur when a docking system equipped with a seal docks to a system with a flat metal flange. This would occur when a vehicle docks to a node on the International Space Station. Seal-on-seal mating would occur when two docking systems equipped with seals dock to each other. Two types of seal designs were identified for this application: Gask-O-seals and multi-piece seals. Both types of seals had a pair of seal bulbs to satisfy the redundancy requirement. A series of performance assessments and comparisons were made between the candidate seal designs indicating that they meet the requirements for leak rate and compression and adhesion loads under a range of operating conditions. Other design factors such as part count, integration into the docking system tunnel, seal-on-seal mating, and cost were also considered leading to the selection of the multi-piece seal design for the new docking system. The results of this study can be used by designers of future docking systems and other habitable volumes to select the seal design best-suited for their particular application.

Dunlap, Patrick, H., Jr.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Surface modification of cathode material enhances electrochemical performance in dry-processed Li-ion battery electrodes

The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is pivotal for achieving energy security and integrating grid stability, with lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) playing a central role in this transformation. However, the conventional wet electrode manufacturing relying on N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) solvent is energy intensive and costly. Dry processing (DP) has emerged as a promising alternative, eliminating solvents and using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) binder for electrode fabrications. Despite its advantages, DP faces a critical challenge: poor interfacial adhesion between the hydrophobic PTFE binder and the hydrophilic cathode active material (CAM), particularly LiNi 0.8 Mn 0.1 Co 0.1 O 2 (NMC811), which undermines electrode performance. Here, to address this, we introduced a novel vapor-phase trimethoxymethylsilane (TMMS) coating to hydrophobize the CAM surface, enhancing compatibility with PTFE. This surface modification significantly enhances binder – CAM interactions, enabling uniform mixing and robust electrode integrity without damaging the CAM particles. Our findings advance the feasibility of environmentally sustainable and cost-effective dry processing, representing a significant step toward sustainable battery manufacturing.

Choi, Junbin [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)↗
DOE OSTI2022

Carbon Dioxide Capture at Nucleophilic Hydroxide Sites in Oxidation–Resistant Cyclodextrin–Based Metal–Organic Frameworks

Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) from industrial point sources and direct air capture are necessary to combat global climate change. A particular challenge faced by amine-based sorbents—the current leading technology—is poor stability towards O 2 . Here, we demonstrate that CO 2 chemisorption in γ-cylodextrin-based metal-organic frameworks (CD-MOFs) occurs via HCO 3 – formation at nucleophilic OH – sites within the framework pores, rather than via previously proposed pathways. Here, the new framework KHCO 3 CD-MOF possesses rapid and high-capacity CO 2 uptake, good thermal, oxidative, and cycling stabilities, and selective CO 2 capture under mixed gas conditions. Because of its low cost and performance under realistic conditions, KHCO 3 CD-MOF is a promising new platform for CCS. More broadly, our work demonstrates that the encapsulation of reactive OH – sites within a porous framework represents a potentially general strategy for the design of oxidation-resistant adsorbents for CO 2 capture.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Mechanistic basis of oxygen sensitivity in titanium

One of the most potent examples of interstitial solute strengthening in metal alloys is the extreme sensitivity of titanium to small amounts of oxygen. Unfortunately, these small amounts of oxygen also lead to a markedly decreased ductility, which in turn drives the increased cost to purify titanium to avoid this oxygen poisoning effect. Here, we report a systematic study on the oxygen sensitivity of titanium that provides a clear mechanistic view of how oxygen impurities affect the mechanical properties of titanium. The increased slip planarity of Ti-O alloys is caused by an interstitial shuffling mechanism, which is sensitive to temperature, strain rate, and oxygen content and leads to the subsequent alteration of deformation twinning behavior. The insights from our experimental and computational work provide a rationale for the design of titanium alloys with increased tolerance to variations in interstitial content, with notable implications for more widespread use of titanium alloys.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Recent Developments in Lithium-Manganese-Nickel Oxide Electrochemistry: The Alchemy of LiMn 0.5 Ni 0.5 O 2

Efforts have been underway for some time at Argonne National Laboratory to design structurally integrated and stabilized lithium-manganese-nickel-oxide cathode materials. The goal has been to find a cobalt-free, high-capacity cathode for a Li-ion battery that is competitive, both cost- and energy-wise, with lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt-oxide (NMC) and lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) products. This brief synopsis highlights the remarkable alchemy of LiMn 0.5 Ni 0.5 O 2 resulting from its well-known, slightly disordered layered structure and the recently discovered lithiated spinel phase and totally disordered rock-salt configurations. All three arrangements share a structurally compatible cubic-close-packed oxygen array. The lithiated spinel and layered components provide an intersecting network of two- and three-dimensional channels that facilitate Li + -ion transport, while a minor amount of an extensively disordered rock-salt component likely serves to enhance the structural and electrochemical stability of the electrode. The synopsis also encompasses the historical development of lithiated spinel electrode materials and structurally integrated systems.

Thackeray, Michael M. [Argonne National Laboratory↗
DOE OSTI2023

Effect of bimetallic modification on blast furnace slag and its application in low‐temperature selective catalytic reduction

Abstract Objective In order to control NO x in low‐temperature flue gases emitted from non‐power industries and to reduce the preparation cost of denitration catalysts, this study uses inexpensive blast furnace slag as raw material to prepare denitration catalysts. Methods After cooling, drying and grinding, the blast furnace slag becomes a powder with considerable fineness and meets the requirements of activity index, which is called GGBS (ground granulated blast furnace slag). Using GGBS as denitration catalyst carrier, the active components M (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Ce) are loaded on Mn‐based GGBS catalyst using an impregnation method. Conclusions The effect of different active components on the denitration performance and sulfur resistance of Mn‐based GGBS catalysts is investigated. The results show that the Mn‐Ce/GGBS catalyst has better denitration performance and sulfur resistance. The Mn‐Ce/GGBS catalyst has a significant denitration performance when load ratio is 2:1. The active component Ce improves the denitration performance of the catalyst, reduces sulfur poisoning and extends the life of the catalyst. The SO 2 in the flue gas increases the acid sites on the catalyst surface and improves catalyst activity. The larger the ratios of Mn 4+ /Mn 3+ , Ce 4+ /Ce 3+ and O α /O β , the stronger the catalyst activity and the better the denitration performance. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Zhang, Lei↗
DOE OSTI2020

Direct insights into the role of epoxy groups on cobalt sites for acidic H 2 O 2 production

Hydrogen peroxide produced by electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction provides a potentially cost effective and energy efficient alternative to the industrial anthraquinone process. In this study, we demonstrate that by modulating the oxygen functional groups near the atomically dispersed cobalt sites with proper electrochemical/chemical treatments, a highly active and selective oxygen reduction process for hydrogen peroxide production can be obtained in acidic electrolyte, showing a negligible amount of onset overpotential and nearly 100% selectivity within a wide range of applied potentials. Combined spectroscopic results reveal that the exceptionally enhanced performance of hydrogen peroxide generation originates from the presence of epoxy groups near the Co–N 4 centers, which has resulted in the modification of the electronic structure of the cobalt atoms. Computational modeling demonstrates these electronically modified cobalt atoms will enhance the hydrogen peroxide productivity during oxygen reduction reaction in acid, providing insights into the design of electroactive materials for effective peroxide production.<

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

Advances in supervisory control strategies for a heat pump centric HVAC system − a comprehensive review on applications

There is an increase in research investigating the development and deployment of supervisory controllers that enable high efficiency electrically driven vapor compression heat pumps operating within grid interactive efficient buildings to provide demand side management. This paper reviews over sixty relevant case studies within this domain that focus on commercial off-the-shelf heat pumps whose primary task is providing space conditioning. The concept of a heat pump-centric heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system is introduced, accompanied by a detailed overview of various kinds of electric heat pumps and building-level thermal energy storage configurations. Additionally, the different types of supervisory controller designs, including rule-based control and model predictive control, are discussed, along with the various methods for communication between a supervisory controller and a downstream heat pump’s local controller. A comparative analysis is conducted in order to categorize the reviewed case studies based on their system design, supervisory control algorithm, and validation methodology. This detailed analysis allows the review to establish current research trends, identify potential gaps, and suggest future directions for the development of this technology. Overall, the authors recommend that more future research be devoted to low-cost practical retrofits that allow for easy integration of active thermal energy storage within heat pump-centric heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system systems that utilize direct expansion heat pumps. We also suggest more research into the development and deployment of supervisory controllers that can properly communicate with commercial off-the-shelf heat pump local controller available control inputs, e.g., zone temperature setpoint. Lastly, more rigorous experimental demonstrations of advanced supervisory control within real and or closed-loop, transient/ quasi-steady state environments are necessary to reduce industry wide skepticism of this technology.

Demand side management↗
NASA NTRS1992

Advanced cryogenic propellant tank development status

The design and development of cryogenic propellant tanks with reduced weight and production costs is described with reference to applications for the National Launch System. The development program focused on the use of an aluminum-lithium alloy to demonstrate the production capability, manufacturability, and strength inherent in the novel material. Other key parameters for the alloy include fracture toughness, stress-corrosion resistance, and conformance to NASA specifications for cryogenic propellant tanks. The commercially produced aluminum-lithium alloy product forms are shown to operate acceptably in the temperature range for cryogenic propellant tanks. The alloy under consideration and the tank design are important advances in the development of ultralightweight launch-vehicle structures.

Scholz, E. F.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Water-In-Glass: A Self-Supporting Inorganic Aqueous Electrolyte

Aqueous rechargeable sodium-ion batteries (ARNIBs) are emerging as cost-effective and safe candidates for large-scale energy storage applications. However, their advancement has been constrained by the narrow electrochemical stability window (ESW) of conventional aqueous electrolytes (1.23 V). Here, in this study, we present a transformative approach using an inexpensive and rapidly dissolvable inorganic glass material, water glass (W-glass), to significantly enhance the ESW and enable the development of solid-state, self-supporting aqueous film (SSA film) electrolytes. These SSA film electrolytes exhibit an extended ESW of up to 3.5 V and a conductivity of ∼10 –4 S/cm at room temperature. Structural analysis using magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and solution-state NMR reveals that the dissolution of W-glass in water is driven by the interdependent hydrolysis of P–O–P linkages and Na + –H + ion exchange. This work offers a cost-effective and scalable solution for advancing high-performance ARNIB technology, addressing critical barriers to commercial adoption.

Electrochemical stability window↗
DOE OSTI2025

Compact X-band split electron linac for cabinet-size small-sample irradiators

Many small-scale industrial radiation facilities rely on hazardous radioisotope-based gamma ray irradiators, which are being gradually replaced by alternative technologies, such as particle accelerators. RadiaBeam has developed a compact, cabinet-size, 3 MeV electron-linac-based irradiator to match the penetration of Co-60 and provide high irradiation throughput. Here the linac utilizes X-band RF power to reduce size, employs an innovative split-linac approach to lower costs, and features a novel X-ray conversion target geometry that spreads the beam out across the target, providing a low dose uniformity ratio. In this paper, we discuss the accelerator design, fabrication, and test results.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Phylogeny, morphology, virulence, ecology, and host range of Ordospora pajunii (Ordosporidae), a microsporidian symbiont of Daphnia spp.

ABSTRACT The impacts of microsporidia on host individuals are frequently subtle and can be context dependent. A key example of the latter comes from a recently discovered microsporidian symbiont of Daphnia , the net impact of which was found to shift from negative to positive based on environmental context. Given this, we hypothesized low baseline virulence of the microsporidian; here, we investigated the impact of infection on hosts in controlled conditions and the absence of other stressors. We also investigated its phylogenetic position, ecology, and host range. The genetic data indicate that the symbiont is Ordospora pajunii , a newly described microsporidian parasite of Daphnia . We show that O. pajunii infection damages the gut, causing infected epithelial cells to lose microvilli and then rupture. The prevalence of this microsporidian could be high (up to 100% in the lab and 77% of adults in the field). Its overall virulence was low in most cases, but some genotypes suffered reduced survival and/or reproduction. Susceptibility and virulence were strongly host-genotype dependent. We found that North American O. pajunii were able to infect multiple Daphnia species, including the European species Daphnia longispina , as well as Ceriodaphnia spp. Given the low, often undetectable virulence of this microsporidian and potentially far-reaching consequences of infections for the host when interacting with other pathogens or food, this Daphnia–O. pajunii symbiosis emerges as a valuable system for studying the mechanisms of context-dependent shifts between mutualism and parasitism, as well as for understanding how symbionts might alter host interactions with resources. IMPORTANCE The net outcome of symbiosis depends on the costs and benefits to each partner. Those can be context dependent, driving the potential for an interaction to change between parasitism and mutualism. Understanding the baseline fitness impact in an interaction can help us understand those shifts; for an organism that is generally parasitic, it should be easier for it to become a mutualist if its baseline virulence is relatively low. Recently, a microsporidian was found to become beneficial to its Daphnia hosts in certain ecological contexts, but little was known about the symbiont (including its species identity). Here, we identify it as the microsporidium Ordospora pajunii . Despite the parasitic nature of microsporidia, we found O. pajunii to be, at most, mildly virulent; this helps explain why it can shift toward mutualism in certain ecological contexts and helps establish O. pajunii is a valuable model for investigating shifts along the mutualism-parasitism continuum.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1989

Objective analysis of pseudostress over the Indian Ocean using a direct-minimization approach

A technique not previously used in objective analysis of meteorological data is used here to produce monthly average surface pseudostress data over the Indian Ocean. An initial guess field is derived and a cost functional is constructed with five terms: approximation to initial guess, approximation to climatology, a smoothness parameter, and two kinematic terms. The functional is minimized using a conjugate-gradient technique, and the weight for the climatology term controls the overall balance of influence between the climatology and the initial guess. Results from various weight combinations are presented for January and July 1984. Quantitative and qualitative comparisons to the subject analysis are made to find which weight combination provides the best results. The weight on the approximation to climatology is found to balance the influence of the original field and climatology.

Legler, David M.↗
DOE OSTI2026

The Global Spectra-Trait Initiative: A database of paired leaf spectroscopy and functional traits associated with leaf photosynthetic capacity

Accurate assessment of leaf functional traits is crucial for a diverse range of applications from crop phenotyping to parameterizing global climate models. Leaf reflectance spectroscopy offers a promising avenue to advance ecological and agricultural research by complementing traditional, time-consuming gas exchange measurements. However, the development of robust hyperspectral models for predicting leaf photosynthetic capacity and associated traits from reflectance data has been hindered by limited data availability across species and environments. Here we introduce the Global Spectra-Trait Initiative (GSTI), a collaborative repository of paired leaf hyperspectral and gas exchange measurements from diverse ecosystems. The GSTI repository currently encompasses over 7500 observations from 397 species and 41 sites gathered from 36 published and unpublished studies, thereby offering a key resource for developing and validating hyperspectral models of leaf photosynthetic capacity. The GSTI database is developed on GitHub (https://github.com/plantphys/gsti, last access: 4 January 2026) and published to ESS-DIVE https://doi.org/10.15485/2530733, Lamour et al., 2025). It includes gas exchange data, derived photosynthetic parameters, and key leaf traits often associated with traditional gas exchange measurements such as leaf mass per area and leaf elemental composition. By providing a standardized repository for data sharing and analysis, we present a critical step towards creating hyperspectral models for predicting photosynthetic traits and associated leaf traits for terrestrial plants.

Lamour, Julien [Université of Toulouse (France); U↗
DOE OSTI2023

Improving initialization and evolution accuracy of cosmological neutrino simulations

Neutrino mass constraints are a primary focus of current and future large-scale structure (LSS) surveys. Non-linear LSS models rely heavily on cosmological simulations — the impact of massive neutrinos should therefore be included in these simulations in a realistic, computationally tractable, and controlled manner. Here, a recent proposal to reduce the related computational cost employs a symmetric neutrino momentum sampling strategy in the initial conditions. We implement a modified version of this strategy into the Hardware/Hybrid Accelerated Cosmology Code (HACC) and perform convergence tests on its internal parameters. We illustrate that this method can impart Script $\mathcal{O}$(1%) numerical artifacts on the total matter field on small scales, similar to previous findings, and present a method to remove these artifacts using Fourier-space filtering of the neutrino density field. Moreover, we show that the converged neutrino power spectrum does not follow linear theory predictions on relatively large scales at early times at the 15% level, prompting a more careful study of systematics in particle-based neutrino simulations. We also present an improved method for backscaling linear transfer functions for initial conditions in massive neutrino cosmologies that is based on achieving the same relative neutrino growth as computed with Boltzmann solvers. Our self-consistent backscaling method yields sub-percent accuracy in the total matter growth function. Comparisons for the non-linear power spectrum with the Mira-Titan emulator at a neutrino mass of m ν = 0.15 eV are in very good agreement with the expected level of errors in the emulator and in the direct N-body simulation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

VERNE: Revealing the Mysteries and Histories of Venus

Introduction: The three Venus missions that were recently selected for upcoming flight (VERITAS, DAVINCI+, and EnVision) will be incredibly valuable to our understanding of Venus’ history, geology, and atmosphere. However, even once completed, key gaps in our knowledge of Venus, and more generally the formation and active processes on rocky, Earth-like planets, will still persist. Remaining questions include 1) how global intrinsic magnetic fields might be maintained on rocky worlds, and how they could then go extinct, and 2) what role atmospheric sulfur chemistry plays in climates of Earth-like planets, which is an increasingly timely subject as Earth’s own atmospheric sulfur content is climbing due to human activity. These questions require in-situ observations from Venus’ cloud deck, at the altitudes at which the UV absorber exists. The Venus Environment Research and Novel Exploration (VERNE) mission will address these questions with an aerial platform that will drift around the equatorial region of the planet for 9 days. VERNE will collect data to determine the identity of the mysterious UV absorber, while also taking magnetic field measurements over the tesserae, the regions on Venus that are most likely to retain remanent crustal magnetization, in order to understand the potential role of a past intrinsically-generated global magnetic field on Venus. Mission Objectives: The two major science objectives that drive the VERNE mission are: 1) Determine the identity of the Venusian unknown ultraviolet absorber(s). First observed approximately a century ago [1], the composition of Venus’ ultraviolet (UV) absorber is one of the oldest mysteries in Venus atmospheric chemistry [2,3]. While several candidate UV absorbers (mostly sulfur species) have been proposed, no consensus has been reached on its composition and its specific interactions with the atmosphere. Determining the identity of the UV absorber will aid climate models by showing how and where incident solar energy is absorbed by the atmosphere and make progress towards understanding the chemical and energetic processes taking place above Venus’ upper cloud deck [4]. 2) Determine if Venus retains evidence of a past, internally-generated magnetic field. While Venus does not currently have an intrinsically-generated magnetic field, evidence for the existence of a past field on Venus and a timeline of its decay will fill in a more holistic picture of the evolution of Venus’ geological record and atmosphere. As the oldest geologic units on the surface, Venus’ tesserae may still have remanent crustal magnetization signatures within the rocky composition [5]. In any case, the signatures detected will provide insight into Venus’ past geological and core dynamo activity. Mission Summary: VERNE includes a 3-part flight system made up of 1) an entry system with a HEEET (Heatshield for Extreme Entry Environment Technology) aeroshell, 2) an orbiter for data relay, and 3) an in-situ balloon and gondola. After entry into Venus’ atmosphere, the balloon will be deployed within the upper cloud deck, at an altitude of 62 km, over a tesserae region. The in-situ data collection will last for the duration of 2 full circumnavigations of the planet, which will take ~9 days. Instrumentation Suite: The four instruments that comprise VERNE’s instrument payload will enable the identification of the unknown UV absorber and the detection of remanent crustal magnetization if it exists in the tesserae. The proposed instrument suite cycle during mission operations is shown in Fig. 1. The four instruments are described below: 1) Adams (ion neutral mass spectrometer) has a range of 18-257 AMU and will detect and distinguish the mixing ratios of O₂, H₂O, H₂SO₄, S, S₂, S₃, S₄, S₅, S₆, S₇, S₈, SO, SO₂, OSSO, SO₃, Cl₂, FeCl₃ and other trace sulfur and organic species. The spatial (longitudinal) and temporal (day/night) variations will be observed throughout 2 circumnavigations with a sample cadence of 12 minutes. 2) Shelley (nephelometer) will determine the size distribution of the aerosols (0.4 to 36 um) in the atmosphere. With a size resolution of <0.7 um, it can determine which mode of H2SO4 is present and characterize the large (>30 um) organic particles previously detected by the Venera and Galileo missions [6,7]. 3) Herbert (UV imager) will measure UV radiance at 283 nm (the wavelength of SO2 absorption) and 365 nm (the unknown part of the absorber). UV images will be taken concurrently with the INMS and nephelometer to correlate UV absorption with abundances of the UV absorber species. 4) Vonnegut (magnetometer) has a range of >600 nT and a precision and accuracy of 1 nT. If magnetized by a past field, the crust may have retained a magnetization of up to 3 A/m2 [5]. With a noise floor of 10 nT, the magnetometer will be able to detect RCM from an altitude of 62 km, even if the thickness of the magnetized crust is just 1 km (Fig. 2). Mission Concept Design: VERNE will be launched with a mass of 3300 kg in an intermediate-high performance class vehicle with a 4-m fairing. The 475-day mission includes 466 days for the cruise, coasting, and orbit initialization phases before entry, descent, and balloon deployment. During the 9-day science phase, the aerial platform will make 2 circumnavigations of the planet at an altitude of 62 km. The INMS and the nephelometer will acquire data for 2 hours during the daytime and nighttime during each circumnavigation, while the UV imager will be on for the duration of the daytime, and the magnetometer will be operational throughout the entirety of the science phase. Data will be stored and processed with the JPL-designed Sphinx command and data handling system. Data will be sent from the balloon to the orbiter using an S-band relay link, stored on the orbiter, and then forwarded to Earth where it will be received by the DSN. Conclusion: VERNE will fill key gaps in our understanding of the history and ongoing processes related to the geology and atmosphere of Venus and rocky worlds in general. Even with adequate flight system contingencies and expected costs below the $900M New Frontiers cost cap, VERNE is not without its risks and challenges. Further trade spaces to explore include 1) using solely battery power vs. including solar panels to increase the mission duration and 2) investigating the use of lightweight materials and 3D-printed structures to reduce the gondola mass, among others. Acknowledgments: We would like to thank the JPL Planetary Science Summer School, especially our mentors Troy Hudson, Karl Mitchell, and Leslie Lowes, as well as our Team-X study lead Al Nash and the members of Team-X. We’d additionally like to thank our review panel for asking insightful questions and providing valuable feedback. References: [1] Ross, F. E. (1928) Astrophysical J., 68, 57-92. [2] Rossow, W. B. et al. (1980) J. Geophysical Research, 85, 8107-8128. [3] Pinto, J. P. et al. (2021) Nature Communications, 12, 175. [4] Titov, D. V. et al. (2007) Cosmic Research, 21, 401. [5] O’Rourke, J. et al. (2019) Geophysical Research Lett., 46, 5768–5777. [6] Limaye, S. S. et al. (2018) Astrobiology, 18(9), 1181-1198. [7] Grinspoon, D. H. et al. (2013) Planetary and Space Sci., 41(7), 515-542. [8] Parker, R. L. (2003) J. Geophysical Research, 108, 5006. *The cost information contained in this document is of a budgetary and planning nature and is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute a commitment on the part of JPL and/or Caltech.

H Alpert↗
DOE OSTI2022

Highly reversible Zn anode with a practical areal capacity enabled by a sustainable electrolyte and superacid interfacial chemistry

Aqueous zinc-metal batteries are plagued by poor Zn reversibility owing to zinc dendrite and layered double hydroxide (LDH) formation. Here, we introduce a novel additive—N,N-dimethylformamidium trifluoromethanesulfonate (DOTf)—in a low-cost aqueous electrolyte that can very effectively address these issues. The initial water-assisted dissociation of DOTf into triflic superacid creates a robust nanostructured solid-electrolyte interface (SEI)—revealed by operando spectroscopy and cryomicroscopy—which excludes water and enables dense Zn deposition. We demonstrate excellent Zn plating/stripping in a Zn||Cu asymmetric cell for more than 3,500 cycles. Furthermore, near 100% CE is realized at a combined high current density of 4 mA cm -2 and an areal capacity of 4 mAh cm -2 over long-term cycling. Zn||Zn 0.25 V 2 O 5 ·nH 2 O full cells retain ~83% of their capacity after 1,000 cycles with mass-limited Zn anodes. By restricting the depth of discharge, the cathodes exhibit less proton intercalation and LDH formation with an extended lifetime of 2,000 cycles.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗