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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 361 records · Page 20

Toward the Practical Use of Cobalt-Free Lithium-Ion Batteries by an Advanced Ether-Based Electrolyte

The criticality of cobalt (Co) has been motivating the quest for Co-free positive electrode materials for building lithium (Li)-ion batteries. However, the Co-free positive electrode materials usually suffer from relatively fast capacity decay when coupled with conventional LiPF 6 -organocarbonates electrolytes. To address this issue, a 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) based localized high concentration electrolyte (LHCE) was developed and evaluated in a Co-free Li-ion cell chemistry (Graphite||LiNi 0.96 Mg 0.02 Ti 0.02 O 2 ). Extraordinary capacity retentions were achieved with the LHCE in coin cells (95.3%), single layer pouch cells (79.4%) and high capacity loading double layer pouch cells (70.9 %) after being operated within the voltage range of 2.5-4.4 V for 500 charge/discharge cycles. The capacity retentions of counterpart cells using LiPF6 based conventional electrolyte only reached 61.1%, 57.2% and 59.8%, respectively. Mechanistic studies reveal that the superior electrode/electrolyte interphases formed by the LHCE and the intrinsic chemical stability of the LHCE account for the excellent electrochemical performance in the Co-free Li-ion cells.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Methylation enables the use of fluorine-free ether electrolytes in high-voltage lithium metal batteries

Lithium metal batteries represent a promising technology for next-generation energy storage, but they still suffer from poor cycle life due to lithium dendrite formation and cathode cracking. Fluorinated solvents can improve battery longevity by improving LiF content in the solid-electrolyte interphase; however, the high cost and environmental concerns of fluorinated solvents limit battery viability. Here, for this work, we designed a series of fluorine-free solvents through the methylation of 1,2-dimethoxyethane, which promotes inorganic LiF-rich interphase formation through anion reduction and achieves high oxidation stability. The anion-derived LiF interphases suppress lithium dendrite growth on the lithium anode and minimize cathode cracking under high-voltage operation. The Li + -solvent structure is investigated through in situ techniques and simulations to draw correlations between the interphase compositions and electrochemical performances. The methylation strategy provides an alternative pathway for electrolyte engineering towards high-voltage electrolytes while reducing dependence on expensive fluorinated solvents.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Electronic structure analysis and DFT benchmarking of Rydberg-type alkali-metal-crown ether, -cryptand, and -adamanzane complexes

Density functional theory (DFT) and electron propagator theory (EPT) calculations were performed to study ground and excited electronic structures of alkali-metal (M) coordinated 9-crown-3, 24-crown-8, [2.1.1]cryptand, o-Me 2 -1.1.1, and 3 6 Adamanzane complexes. Each complex bears an expanded electron in the periphery and occupies diffuse 1p-, 1d-, 1f-type molecular orbitals (or superatomic 1P, 1D, 1F orbitals) in excited electronic states. The calculated superatomic shell model of the M(9-crown-3) 2 is 1S, 1P, 1D, 1F, 2S, 2P, 2D, 1G and it is held by all other complexes up to the studied 1F level. Due to the highly diffuse nature of the electron, the ionization energies of these complexes are significantly lower (1.6–2.0 eV) and hence these complexes belong to the superalkali category. Further, the ab initio EPT ionization energy and the excitation energies of the Li(9-crown-3) 2 were used to evaluate DFT errors associated with a series of exchange correlation functionals that span multiple rungs of Jacob's ladder (i.e., GGA, meta-GGA, global GGA hybrid, meta-GGA hybrid, range-separated hybrid, double-hybrid). Among these, the best performing functional is the range-separated hybrid CAM-B3LYP and the errors are within 6% of high-level ab initio EPT results. The accuracy of CAM-B3LYP is indeed transferable to similar complexes and hence the findings are expected to accelerate the progression of studies of Rydberg-type systems.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Evaluation of the Performance and Exhaust Emissions of a 4 Cylinder CI Engine Operating With Dimethyl Ether (DME) and Propane Blends

In response to stringent emissions regulations and the need for higher efficiency engines, the utilization of DME and propane fuel blends in compression ignition (CI) engines has gained interest in the automotive industry. In this study, a range of DME-propane blends are explored in a CI combustion strategy at high injection pressures. A GT-Power model of a 2.2 L Hyundai CI engine was developed to facilitate evaluation of the impacts of variations of DME and propane blends at a light and medium engine speed-torque-load operating condition; specifically at 1500 rpm, 50 Nm and 2.84 bar brake mean effective pressure (BMEP); and 2000 rpm, 150 Nm, 8.53 bar BMEP speed-torque-load combination. Here, the GT-Power model was validated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. The results indicate that high diesel-like efficiencies can be achieved with a 100% DME mass substitution and up to 50% propane-DME blends could be implemented without a significant penalty on engine performance indicators. Significant brake specific nitrogen oxides (BSNOx) reductions were also observed along with reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) and soot when leveraging these fuel blends.

computational fluid dynamics↗