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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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Optical annealing of peroxo-ferric intermediates in CYP17A1 and product formation.
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A Hydrophobic Core Stabilizes the Residual Structure in the RRM2 Intermediate State of the ALS-linked Protein TDP-43
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Characterization of Fe-Cr alloys irradiated by neutrons at intermediate temperature
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Chromium nano-segregation and intermediate band formation in heavily-doped ZnS:Cr films
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International perspectives on glass waste form development for low-level and intermediate-level radioactive waste
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High-Voltage, Intermediate-Temperature, Fe- and Al-Mixed Metal Halide Molten Salt for Molten Sodium Battery Energy Storage
An inorganic Fe and Al halide-based, low-temperature molten salt catholyte is described, which, when paired with a molten sodium anode, has high operating potentials rivaling those of Li ion batteries. The newly developed catholyte consists of metal halides FeCl 3 /FeCl 2 –AlCl 3 –NaCl and is intended to cycle between Fe 3+ /Fe 2+ redox couples in the molten salt. The multicomponent molten salt was initially evaluated for phase behavior and basic electrochemical behavior before full battery testing. The assembled battery, utilizing a 20:35:45 (FeCl 3 :AlCl 3 :NaCl) composition, with a 50.83 Ah/kg theoretical gravimetric capacity and a specific energy of 176.95 Wh/kg, was cycled at variable depths of discharge (DoD) and current densities to determine its cycling efficiencies and limitations. In conclusion, preliminary cycling tests showed two operational potential regimes, with higher potential, 3.91 V (vs Na/Na + ), at low DoD and lower potential, 3.39 V (vs Na/Na + ), at high DoD with excellent energy efficiencies and cycling behavior under both regimes.
Synthesis of Chromium(IV) Nitrides Through High-Spin Tetrahedral Chromium(I) Intermediates
Reduction of (depe) 2 CrCl 2 (depe = 1,2-bis- (diethylphosphino)ethane) and (dep-benz) 2 CrCl 2 (dep-benz = 1,2-bis(diethylphosphino)benzene) under 1 atm of N 2 furnished the dinitrogen complexes (depe) 2 Cr(N 2 ) 2 and (dep-benz) 2 Cr(N 2 ) 2 , respectively. One-electron oxidation of these products with FcBAr F 4 (Fc = ferrocenium, BAr F 4 = B(3,5-(CF 3 ) 2 C 6 H 3 ) 4 ) yielded the unusual, high-spin tetrahedral complexes [(depe) 2 Cr][BAr F 4 ] and [(dep-benz) 2 Cr][BAr F 4 ] with concomitant loss of dinitrogen. Reaction of the chromium(I) derivatives with Ph 3 CN 3 furnished rare examples of chromium(IV) nitrides as confirmed spectroscopically and by X-ray crystallography. While [(depe) 2 Cr(≡N)][BAr F 4 ] underwent association of isocyanides accompanied by partial ligand dissociation, neither chromium nitride was reactive toward H 2 or diphenylsilane under thermal or photochemical conditions. These results distinguish the unique properties of the chromium(IV) nitrides as compared to heavier group 6 congeners and demonstrate both the feasibility of nitride synthesis and the limitations of dinitrogen cleavage and subsequent N−H bond formation.
Chemically Driven Multistep Crystallization in the Synthesis of Sodium Yttrium Fluoride Via a Porous, Electrochemically Active Intermediate
Two-step crystallization mechanisms based on liquid–liquid phase separations followed by crystallization are commonly observed both in the laboratory and in nature. While this pathway quite often occurs as a result of a chemical reaction, the subsequent nucleation and growth are often considered as separate, discrete events from the reaction itself. We show this mechanism in the aqueous synthesis sodium yttrium fluoride, but by using a combination of experimental techniques and computational modeling, we show an additional step of solid-state chemical diffusion that is essential to the nucleation mechanism. In this system, we observe at least four distinct steps in the crystallization process, including (1) the segregation of aqueous ions into a dense liquid phase, (2) the formation of a metastable amorphous aggregate, (3) the continuous, gradual solid-state diffusion of sodium and fluoride ions into the amorphous aggregate toward a NaYF4 stoichiometry, and (4) the crystallization of a stable cubic sodium yttrium fluoride phase. Unlike previous descriptions of nucleation and growth, we find that the stoichiometry of the final solid phase evolves throughout the crystallization process rather than being determined at the time of the initial separation from solution. Further, this emphasizes that the chemical reaction cannot be assumed to be a separate event from the phase separation and growth, especially in compounds with variable stoichiometry. We also find that the amorphous aggregate that forms prior to the ion incorporation step adopts a porous, gel-like structure, which we isolated and showed to be electrochemically active, allowing for its potential use as a battery anode in lithium and sodium ion batteries, among other potential applications.
Butene-Rich Alkene Formation from 2,3-Butanediol through Dioxolane Intermediates
The cost-effective production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) remains a major challenge within the energy sector. One approach to address this is the fermentation of biomass feedstocks into oxygenates followed by catalytic conversion to alkenes or other oligomerization precursors. 2,3-Butanediol (BDO) is a promising fermentation product due to its four-carbon nature, its decreased microorganism toxicity and associated higher maximum fermentation titers relative to other alcohols and oxygenates, and its capacity to be readily converted into butene isomers and longer chain alkenes. BDO conversion is currently constrained by separation challenges for BDO isolation due to its high boiling point and hydrophilicity. Here, this work expands upon previous BDO reactive separation via dioxolane formation over a solid acid catalyst by investigating the conversion of dioxolanes into alkene mixtures. Dioxolanes were formed from a range of aldehydes and subsequently converted over a Cu/ZSM-5 catalyst (448–523 K) via an ether cleavage, hydrogenation, and dehydration reaction network to form alkene-rich product mixtures (96% C 3+ alkene yield, 523 K). This selectivity is greater than that of direct BDO conversion to alkenes over an identical catalyst (89%, 523 K). C 3+ alkene selectivity is maximized between 498 and 523 K at complete dioxolane conversion without significant alkene hydrogenation to alkanes. The alkene product distributions can be tailored via both aldehyde selection during dioxolane formation and the dioxolane conversion reaction temperature. Alkene mixtures from dioxolane conversion predominantly reflect the carbon chain length and stereochemistry of BDO and the initial aldehyde at or below 498 K, yet higher reaction temperatures yield alkene mixtures of similar carbon chain distributions, regardless of initial aldehyde selection. Deactivation of the Cu/ZSM-5 catalyst is observed for multiple steps of the overall reaction network but can be minimized by facilitating the complete dioxolane-to-alkene reaction network at temperatures of at least 498 K.
Metal–Metal Redox Exchange to Produce Heterometallic Manganese–Cobalt Oxo Cubanes via a “Dangler” Intermediate
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Stabilizing Ru-Formyl CO 2 Reduction Intermediates by Formation of Lewis Acid–Base Adducts: A Combined 2DIR and NMR Study
This work demonstrates how the stability of a Ru(II) formyl complex (cis-[Ru(bpy) 2 (CO)(CHO)][PF 6 ]), which is known to decarbonylate to form the metal hydride complex, is greatly enhanced by the addition of a Lewis acidic cation (Li + or Mg 2+ ). Multinuclear NMR is used to measure equilibrium constants of adduct formation, and then ultrafast 2DIR spectroscopy is applied to determine how the electronic structure and local molecular dynamics change upon complexation of the formyl ligand with the Lewis acid. We attribute the stabilization of the complex to the formation of a carbene-like structure where the bond strength between the Ru and the formyl group increases. The change in electronic structure is evidenced by steady-state NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations. 2DIR measurements further confirm both the complexation of the formyl ligand with the Lewis acid and the change in electronic structure, where changes in vibrational frequency, relaxation kinetics, and a slowdown in the time scale of rotation about the metal-formyl bond are observed in the presence of Lewis acids.
Intermediate-Temperature Reverse Water–Gas Shift under Process-Relevant Conditions Catalyzed by Dispersed Alkali Carbonates
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Molecular Design of Al(II) Intermediates for Small Molecule Activation
Promoting societally important small molecule activation processes with earth-abundant metals is foundational for a sustainable chemistry future. In this context, mapping new reaction pathways that would enable abundant main-group elements to mimic the behaviors of d- and f-block elements is facilitated by exploring unusual oxidation states. The most abundant metal on earth, aluminum, has been well studied in the Lewis acidic +III and Lewis basic +I oxidation states but rarely in the potentially biphilic +II oxidation state until recently, when a renaissance of Al(II) chemistry emerged from a range of research groups. In this Perspective, we review the chemistry of mononuclear Al radicals, including both Al-centered radicals (i.e., Al(II) compounds) and redox non-innocent systems (i.e., formally Al(II) species that are physically Al(III) with ligand-centered radicals), with an emphasis on small molecule reactivity. We also provide a meta-analysis of the Al(II) literature to summarize how different design strategies (e.g., redox non-innocence, strained coordination geometries) have been shown to impart biphilic character to Al radicals and tune their behavior, thus allowing Al radicals to mimic the chemistry of certain d- and f-block metal ions such as Ti(III) and Sm(II). We expect these molecular design concepts to inform future Al(II) studies as the chemistry of this unusual oxidation state of Al continues to grow.
Trafficking of a nitrogenase FeMo-cofactor assembly intermediate
The maturation of the unique FeMo-cofactor of molybdenum nitrogenase is a multistep process requiring the sequential action of a series of maturase complexes. As a final step, the NifEN complex forms FeMo-cofactor from the precursor NifB-co, also called L-cluster, through replacement of an apical iron ion by molybdenum and the attachment of an organic homocitrate ligand. NifB-co is delivered by a small cofactor chaperone, NifX, and initially bound near the surface of the maturase NifEN. Here, we report high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy structures of NifEN in complex with NifX, showing NifB-co binding to NifEN in full detail, capturing both interacting partners in the act of cluster transfer. In a dynamic transfer complex, the large metal cluster is coordinated by single residues from both NifEN and NifX. In silico studies concur with these structures but suggest a third, internal conversion site where cluster maturation likely takes place.
Resolving intermediates during the growth of aluminum deuteroxide (Hydroxide) polymorphs in high chemical potential solutions
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Determination of intermediates and products of the uranyl aerosol formation in UF 6 hydrolysis in the gas phase
A graphical representation of the uranyl aerosol formation.