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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 379 records · Page 21
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2019

A Novel Rigid PU Foam Based on Modified Used Palm Oil as Sound Absorbing Material

Novel bio-polyol was successfully synthesized from used palm oil (UPO) and was further tested for preparing rigid polyurethane (PU) foams. In this work, the modified used palm oil (MUPO) was synthesized in a single step process, by epoxidation together with ring opening reactions. The reagent ratios and reaction time for MUPO synthesis were also studied. The chemical structure of MUPO was confirmed by {sup 1}H-NMR spectroscopy and FTIR. The hydroxyl value of MUPO increased with reaction time and depended also on reagent ratio. The GPC trace of MUPO showed a bimodal distribution and the molecular weight slightly decreased with OH value. New rigid PU foams were prepared from MUPO. The foam cell size and compressive strength at 10% strain increased with OH value. All the rigid PU foams had excellent sound absorption coefficients. The lowest OH value (OHV = 100 mg KOH/g) provided sound absorption from 2200 Hz. In addition, the flammability of PU foams was improved by adding 30% wt of triphosphate (TPP) as flame retardant. The investigations showed that a bio-polyol based on UPO was suitable for preparing rigid PU foams that could serve as alternative sound absorbing materials. Graphical Abstract: .

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Characterizing Potential Radiative Forcing on the North Slope of Alaska Field Campaign Report

The goal of the campaign was to quantify black carbon (BC) and brown carbon (BrC) and their contributions to absorption for two coastal sites on the North Slope of Alaska (NSA). This field campaign was intended to expand on PI Sheesley’s successful 2012-2013 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility campaign, the Barrow Black Carbon Source and Impact Study field campaign. The two sites selected for this campaign were the Barrow, Alaska (now known as Utqiagvik) observatory and the ARM Mobile Facility at Oliktok Point. The purpose of having two sites was to better assess regional extent and impacts of regional and long-range sources on NSA BC and BrC, and allow a more comprehensive determination of regional aerosol absorption coefficients and regional hygroscopicity and regional aerosol optical depth (AOD) and absorption AOD (AAOD). AOD is a parameter used for determining atmospheric aerosol loading since AOD data from a sun photometer is highly accurate. AAOD provides information to determine the absorption component of aerosol radiative forcing for the total air column, including aerosol at both the surface and aloft.

North Slope of Alaska, Barrow, Oliktok Point, blac↗
DOE OSTI2024

Halogenated Dibenzo[ f , h ]quinoxaline Units Constructed 2D‐Conjugated Guest Acceptors for 19% Efficiency Organic Solar Cells

Abstract Halogenation of Y‐series small‐molecule acceptors (Y‐SMAs) is identified as an effective strategy to optimize photoelectric properties for achieving improved power‐conversion‐efficiencies (PCEs) in binary organic solar cells (OSCs). However, the effect of different halogenation in the 2D‐structured large π‐fused core of guest Y‐SMAs on ternary OSCs has not yet been systematically studied. Herein, four 2D‐conjugated Y‐SMAs (X‐QTP‐4F, including halogen‐free H‐QTP‐4F, chlorinated Cl‐QTP‐4F, brominated Br‐QTP‐4F, and iodinated I‐QTP‐4F) by attaching different halogens into 2D‐conjugation extended dibenzo[ f , h ]quinoxaline core are developed. Among these X‐QTP‐4F, Cl‐QTP‐4F has a higher absorption coefficient, optimized molecular crystallinity and packing, suitable cascade energy levels, and complementary absorption with PM6:L8‐BO host. Moreover, among ternary PM6:L8‐BO:X‐QTP‐4F blends, PM6:L8‐BO:Cl‐QTP‐4F obtains a more uniform and size‐suitable fibrillary network morphology, improved molecular crystallinity and packing, as well as optimized vertical phase distribution, thus boosting charge generation, transport, extraction, and suppressing energy loss of OSCs. Consequently, the PM6:L8‐BO:Cl‐QTP‐4F‐based OSCs achieve a 19.0% efficiency, which is among the state‐of‐the‐art OSCs based on 2D‐conjugated Y‐SMAs and superior to these devices based on PM6:L8‐BO host (17.70%) and with guests of H‐QTP‐4F (18.23%), Br‐QTP‐4F (18.39%), and I‐QTP‐4F (17.62%). The work indicates that halogenation in 2D‐structured dibenzo[ f , h ]quinoxaline core of Y‐SMAs guests is a promising strategy to gain efficient ternary OSCs.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Static and dynamic optical properties of La 1-x Sr x FeO 3-δ : The effects of A-site and oxygen stoichiometry

Perovskite oxides are a promising material class for photovoltaic and photocatalytic applications due to their visible band gaps, nanosecond recombination lifetimes, and great chemical diversity. However, there is limited understanding of the link between composition and static and dynamic optical properties, despite the critical role these properties play in the design of light-harvesting devices. To clarify these relationships, we systemically studied the optoelectronic properties in La 1-x Sr x FeO 3-δ epitaxial films, uncovering the effects of A-site cation substitution and oxygen stoichiometry. Variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry was used to measure static optical properties, revealing a linear increase in absorption coefficient at 1.25 eV and a red-shifting of the optical absorption edge with increasing Sr fraction. The absorption spectra can be similarly tuned through the introduction of oxygen vacancies, indicating the critical role that nominal Fe valence plays in optical absorption. Dynamic optoelectronic properties were studied with ultrafast transient reflectance spectroscopy, revealing similar nanosecond photoexcited carrier lifetimes for oxygen deficient and stoichiometric films with the same nominal Fe valence. Furthermore, these results demonstrate that while the static optical absorption is strongly dependent on nominal Fe valence tuned through cation or anion stoichiometry, oxygen vacancies do not appear to play a significantly detrimental role in the recombination kinetics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

ZnGa 2 Te 4 thin-film absorbers for photoelectrochemical CO 2 reduction

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) has been considered as a promising route to convert and store solar energy into chemical fuels. It is crucial to find suitable photoelectrode materials that are photo-catalytically active and exhibit excellent photochemical stability. One of the promising contenders is ZnTe with the ∼2.26 eV band gap and prolonged stability under CO 2 RR PEC conditions. Herein, a new telluride based thin-film ZnGa 2 Te 4 photocathode with lower band gap and stronger visible light absorption compared to ZnTe is synthesized and characterized using a combinatorial sputtering technique. A two-step annealing method with excess Te supply is implemented to synthesize nearly stoichiometric ZnGa 2 Te 4 absorber material with a zincblende-derived tetragonal crystal structure confirmed by synchrotron X-ray and electron diffraction. Theoretical calculations show that ZnGa 2 Te 4 has suitable direct bandgap (∼1.86 eV) and high absorption coefficient ∼10 5 cm −1 , in agreement with experimentally prepared films. Transient absorption spectroscopy reveals the biexponential decay dynamics, with time constants, τ 1 ∼ 0.04, and τ 2 ∼ 0.65 μs in microsecond time scales and provides the optical transition pathways for this semiconductor thin film. PEC measurements show that the ZnGa 2 Te 4 photocurrent densities are comparable to the widely investigated ZnTe photocathodes or even surpass it under simulated sunlight condition. ZnGa 2 Te 4 samples demonstrate promising photoelectrochemical stability, maintaining consistent performance under illumination. The inclusion of diaryliodonium additive substantially increases its CO 2 RR selectivity to ∼60%. These findings open a new avenue for the synthesis of telluride-based thin-film photocathodes for further exploration and will motivate future research to integrate this potential photocathode material into PEC devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Effect of nonparabolicity of the electron and light-hole energy spectrum on the optical properties of heterostructures with deep AlSb/InAs{sub 0.86}Sb{sub 0.14}/AlSb quantum wells

The optical characteristics of heterostructures with deep quantum wells are studied using the AlSb/InAs{sub 0.86}Sb{sub 0.14}/AlSb structure within the framework of the four-band Kane model with regard to the nonparabolicity of the carrier energy spectrum. It is demonstrated that consideration of the nonparabolicity increases the number of size-quantization levels in the conduction band. At a quantum-well width of 100 Å, the investigated heterostructure contains three size-quantization levels within the parabolic model and six levels within the Kane model. This is due to the fact that the effective mass of high-energy electrons is found to be larger than the mass of electrons at the bottom of the conduction band by a factor of four. It is shown that account for the nonparabolicity only slightly affects the overlap integral for the s and p states, but significantly increases the density of states in the conduction band, which causes considerable growth in the radiation-absorption coefficient.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1973

Detection of nitric oxide pollution

Studies of absorption spectra enhancement of certain atomic and molecular species inserter in dye-laser cavities have indicated that nitric oxide can be determined at low concentrations. Absorption coefficient of small amounts of nitric oxide in intra-laser-cavity absorption cell containing helium is enhanced by more than two orders of magnitude.

Chackerian, C., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Determining CDOM Absorption Spectra in Diverse Coastal Environments Using a Multiple Pathlength, Liquid Core Waveguide System. Measuring the Absorption of CDOM in the Field Using a Multiple Pathlength Liquid Waveguide System

We evaluated the accuracy, sensitivity and precision of a multiple pathlength, liquid core waveguide (MPLCW) system for measuring colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) absorption in the UV-visible spectral range (370-700 nm). The MPLCW has four optical paths (2.0, 9.8, 49.3, and 204 cm) coupled to a single Teflon AF sample cell. Water samples were obtained from inland, coastal and ocean waters ranging in salinity from 0 to 36 PSU. Reference solutions for the MPLCW were made having a refractive index of the sample. CDOM absorption coefficients, a(sub CDOM), and the slope of the log-linearized absorption spectra, S, were compared with values obtained using a dual-beam spectrophotometer. Absorption of phenol red secondary standards measured by the MPLCW at 558 nm were highly correlated with spectrophotometer values (r > 0.99) and showed a linear response across all four pathlengths. Values of a(sub CDOM) measured using the MPLCW were virtually identical to spectrophotometer values over a wide range of concentrations. The dynamic range of a(sub CDOM) for MPLCW measurements was 0.002 - 231.5/m. At low CDOM concentrations (a(sub 370) < 0.1/m) spectrophotometric a(sub CDOM) were slightly greater than MPLCW values and showed larger fluctuations at longer wavelengths due to limitations in instrument precision. In contrast, MPLCW spectra followed an exponential to 600 nm for all samples. The maximum deviation in replicate MPLCW spectra was less than 0.001 absorbance units. The portability, sampling, and optical characteristics of a MPLCW system provide significant enhancements for routine CDOM absorption measurements in a broad range of natural waters.

Miller, Richard L.↗
NASA NTRS1974

The nu sub 9 fundamental of ethane - Integrated intensity and band absorption measurements with application to the atmospheres of the major planets

Measurements of the absolute intensity and integrated band absorption have been performed for the nu sub 9 fundamental band of ethane. The intensity is found to be about 34 per sq cm per atm at STP, and this is significantly higher than previous estimates. It is shown that a Gaussian profile provides an empirical representation of the apparent spectral absorption coefficient. Employing this empirical profile, a simple expression is derived for the integrated band absorption, which is in excellent agreement with experimental values. The band model is then employed to investigate the possible role of ethane as a source of thermal infrared opacity within the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn, and to interpret qualitatively observed brightness temperatures for Saturn.

Varanasi, P.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Scattering of light in a spherical multilayer atmosphere

The problem of radiation diffusion in the atmosphere of a planet illuminated by solar rays was examined. The basic equations of the problem were obtained and the solution was found for the case when the absorption coefficient in the atmosphere is constant. The assumption was introduced of exponential variation of absorptivity with altitude, and a first approximation solution was proposed.

Titarchuk, L. G.↗
NASA NTRS2002

The Measurement of Aerosol Optical Properties using Continuous Wave Cavity Ring-Down Techniques

Large uncertainties in the effects that aerosols have on climate require improved in situ measurements of extinction coefficient and single-scattering albedo. This paper describes the use of continuous wave cavity ring-down (CW-CRD) technology to address this problem. The innovations in this instrument are the use of CW-CRD to measure aerosol extinction coefficient, the simultaneous measurement of scattering coefficient, and small size suitable for a wide range of aircraft applications. Our prototype instrument measures extinction and scattering coefficient at 690 nm and extinction coefficient at 1550 nm. The instrument itself is small (60 x 48 x 15 cm) and relatively insensitive to vibrations. The prototype instrument has been tested in our lab and used in the field. While improvements in performance are needed, the prototype has been shown to make accurate and sensitive measurements of extinction and scattering coefficients. Combining these two parameters, one can obtain the single-scattering albedo and absorption coefficient, both important aerosol properties. The use of two wavelengths also allows us to obtain a quantitative idea of the size of the aerosol through the Angstrom exponent. Minimum sensitivity of the prototype instrument is 1.5 x 10(exp -6)/m (1.5 M/m). Validation of the measurement of extinction coefficient has been accomplished by comparing the measurement of calibration spheres with Mie calculations. This instrument and its successors have potential to help reduce uncertainty currently associated with aerosol optical properties and their spatial and temporal variation. Possible applications include studies of visibility, climate forcing by aerosol, and the validation of aerosol retrieval schemes from satellite data.

Strawa, Anthony W.↗
NASA NTRS2002

The Measurement of Aerosol Optical Properties Using Continuous Wave Cavity Ring-Down Techniques

Large uncertainties in the effects that aerosols have on climate require improved in-situ measurements of extinction coefficient and single-scattering albedo. This abstract describes the use of continuous wave cavity ring-down (CW-CRD) technology to address this problem. The innovations in this instrument are the use of CW-CRD to measure aerosol extinction coefficient, the simultaneous measurement of scattering coefficient, and small size suitable for a wide range of aircraft applications. Our prototype instrument measures extinction and scattering coefficient at 690 nm and extinction coefficient at 1550 nm. The instrument itself is small (60 x 48 x 15 cm) and relatively insensitive to vibrations. The prototype instrument has been tested in our lab and used in the field. While improvements in performance are needed, the prototype has been shown to make accurate and sensitive measurements of extinction and scattering coefficients. Combining these two parameters, one can obtain the single-scattering albedo and absorption coefficient, both important aerosol properties. The use of two wavelengths also allows us to obtain a quantitative idea of the size of the aerosol through the Angstrom exponent. Minimum sensitivity of the prototype instrument is 1.5 x 10(exp -6)/m (1.5/Mm). Validation of the measurement of extinction coefficient has been accomplished by comparing the measurement of calibration spheres with Mie calculations. This instrument and its successors have potential to help reduce uncertainty currently associated with aerosol optical properties and their spatial and temporal variation. Possible applications include studies of visibility, climate forcing by aerosol, and the validation of aerosol retrieval schemes from satellite data.

Strawa, A. W.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Progress of Multicolor Single Detector to Detector Array Development for Remote Sensing

Knowledge of the spatial and temporal distribution of atmospheric species such as CO2, O3, H2O, and CH4 is important for understanding the chemistry and physical cycles involving Earth s atmosphere. Although several remote sensing techniques are suitable for such measurements they are considered high cost techniques involving complicated instrumentation. Therefore, simultaneous measurement of atmospheric species using a single remote sensing instrument is significant for minimizing cost, size and complexity. While maintaining the instrument sensitivity and range, quality of multicolor detector, in terms of high quantum efficiency and low noise are vital for these missions. As the first step for developing multicolor focal plan array, the structure of a single element multicolor detector is presented in this paper. The detector consists of three p-n junction layers of Si, GaSb and InAs wafer bonded to cover the spectral range UV to 900 nm, 800 nm to 1.7 m, and 1.5 m to 3.4 m, respectively. Modeling of the absorption coefficient for each material was carried out for optimizing the layers thicknesses for maximum absorption. The resulted quantum efficiency of each layer has been determined except InAs layer. The optical and electrical characterization of each layer structure is reported including dark current and spectral response measurements of Si pin structure and of GaSb and InAs p-n junctions. The effect of the material processing is discussed.

Abedin, M. Nurul↗
NASA NTRS1990

Sunspot seismology theory

Physical mechanisms proposed to explain the absorption of significant p-mode wave power by sunspots are reviewed, and their viability in view of the current knowledge of the scattering process is discussed. It is concluded that there is no satisfactory theoretical model for the absorption of p-modes by sunspots available at present. It is argued that the resonance absorption model is able to obtain the large absorption coefficients observed for nonaxisymmetric perturbations. For axisymmetric perturbations, departures from perfect cylindrical symmetry or the inclusion of a slight twist in the sunspot flux tube may be able to resolve the problem with the absorption of m = 0 wave modes. Other dissipative models, which do not incorporate the background gradient effects inherent in the resonance absorption mechanism, require inconveniently large dissipation coefficients within the sunspot.

Davila, Joseph M.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Quasi-monochromatic measurements of homogeneous arc plasmas.

The refined diagnostic information obtainable by high-order spectrometry is illustrated by the results of quantitative measurements of a few rotational lines of OH in the ultraviolet spectrum of water-vapor plasmas generated in a wall-stabilized arc. Because of the high spectral and spatial resolution achieved in end-on measurements, the emission and also the absorption coefficients pertaining to homogeneous arc regions were obtained directly from measured line spectra - although the absorption was not measured explicitly - leading to the occupation of the upper and the lower state for the transition. The gas temperature was determined from the halfwidth of the Doppler-broadened rotational lines. The measured resolving power of the spectrometer was of the order of 400,000 in these measurements.

Klein, L.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Absorption of CO laser radiation by NO

The paper describes absorption calculations and measurements at selected infrared CO laser wavelengths which are nearly coincident with absorption lines in the fundamental vibration-rotation band of NO near 5.3 microns. Initial work was directed towards establishing the optimal CO laser-NO absorption line coincidence for high temperature applications. Measurements of the absorption coefficient at this optimal laser wavelength were carried out, first using a room-temperature absorption cell for high-temperature calculations and then using a shock tube, for the temperature range 630-4000 K, to validate the high temperature calculations.

Hanson, R. K.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Nonlinear Optical Properties of CdS/ZnS Quantum Dots in a High-Molecular-Weight Polyvinylpyrrolidone Matrix

Sols containing core/shell CdS/ZnS semiconductor quantum dots are synthesized and their nonlinear properties, which are interesting for a large variety of applications in nanophotonics, are studied. The quantum dots produced are smaller in dimensions than the exciton Bohr radius and, therefore, exhibit a well-pronounced quantum-confinement effect. The nonlinear optical properties of low-concentration sols are studied upon exposure to laser pulses with an emission wavelength of 532 nm and a duration of 5 ns by the z-scan technique. The dependences of nonlinear optical coefficients on the concentration of CdS/ZnS quantum dots are obtained. The intensity dependence of two-photon absorption coefficients is presented. The dependence determines the boundary of the influence of high-order nonlinearities on the nonlinear transmittance of the samples. The mechanisms of optical limitation exhibited by sols, specifically, two-photon absorption, nonlinear refraction, and nonlinear scattering are discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Electrical properties of undoped zinc oxide nanostructures at different annealing temperature

This project has been focused on the electrical and optical properties respectively on the effect of Undoped zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films at different annealing temperature which is varied 400 °C, 450 °C, 500 °C, and 550 °C.Undoped ZnO solutions were deposited onto the glass substrates using sol-gel spin coating method. This project was involved with three phases, which are thin films preparation, deposition and characterization. The thin films were characterized using Current Voltage (I-V) measurement and UV-vis-NIR spectrophotometer for electrical properties and optical properties. The electrical properties show that the resistivity is the lowest at 500 °C which its resistivity is 5.36 × 10{sup 4} Ωcm{sup −1}. The absorption coefficient spectrum obtained from UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer measurement shows all films exhibit very low absorption in the visible (400-800 nm) and near infrared (NIR) (>800 nm) range but exhibit high absorption in the UV range.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗