Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “high concentration electrolyte”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 433 records · Page 24

KOH concentration effect on the cycle life of nickel-hydrogen cells. 4: Results of failure analyse

Effects of KOH concentrations on failure modes and mechanisms of nickel-hydrogen cells were studied using long cycled boiler plate cells containing electrolytes of various KOH concentrations ranging 21 to 36 percent. Life of these cells were up to 40,000 cycles in an accelerated low earth orbit (LEO) cycle regime at 80 percent depth of discharge. An interim life test results were reported earlier in J. Power Sources, 22, 213-220, 1988. The results of final life test, end-of-life cell performance, and teardown analyses are discussed. These teardown analyses included visual observations, measurements of nickel electrode capacity in an electrolyte-flooded cell, dimensional changes of cell components, SEM studies on cell cross section, BET surface area and pore volume distribution in cycled nickel electrodes, and chemical analyses. Cycle life of a nickel-hydrogen cell was improved tremendously as KOH concentration was decreased from 36 to 31 percent and from 31 to 26 percent while effect of further concentration decrease was complicated as described in our earlier report. Failure mode of high concentration (31 to 36 percent) cells was gradual capacity decrease, while that of low concentration (21 to 26 percent) cells was mainly formation of a soft short. Long cycled (25,000 to 40,000 cycles) nickel electrodes were expanded more than 50 percent of the initial value, but no correlation was found between this expansion and measured capacity. All electrodes cycled in low concentration (21 to 26 percent) cells had higher capacity than those cycled in high concentration (31 to 36 percent) cells.

Lim, H. S.↗

Three-chamber electrochemical reactor for selective lithium extraction from brine

Efficient lithium recovery from geothermal brines is crucial for the battery industry. Current electrochemical separation methods struggle with the simultaneous presence of Na + , K + , Mg 2+ , and Ca 2+ because these cations are similar to Li + , making it challenging to separate effectively. We address these challenges with a three-chamber reactor featuring a polymer porous solid electrolyte in the middle layer. This design improves the transference number of Li + (t Li+ ) by 2.1 times compared to the two-chamber reactor and also reduces the chlorine evolution reaction, a common side reaction in electrochemical lithium extraction, to only 6.4% in Faradaic Efficiency. Employing a lithium-ion conductive glass ceramic (LICGC) membrane, the reactor achieved high t Li+ of 97.5% in LiOH production from simulated brine, while the concentrations of Na + K + , Mg 2+ , and Ca 2+ are below the detection limit. Electrochemical experiments and surface analysis elucidated the cation transport mechanism, highlighting the impact of Na + on Li + migration at the LICGC interface.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗

Stabilizing Graphite Anode in Electrolytes with Nanoscale Anion Networking for High-Rate Lithium Storage

Graphite is the preferred anode material in commercial lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), but its limited compatibility with various organic molecules restricts the electrolyte solvent options. The primary challenge is solvent co-intercalation with Li ions, leading to graphite layer exfoliation. As a result, electrolyte selection often relies on ethylene carbonate (EC)-based solvents. Here, in this study, we introduce electrolytes featuring a nanoscale anion network ordering that hinders the liquid-phase exfoliation of graphite. This network, formed from concentrated long-chain lithium salts, traps free dioxolane (DOL) molecules, reducing the interactions between graphite particles and solvents during Li intercalation. Our findings reveal a mechanism that stabilizes graphite in otherwise unstable solvents with concentrated salts like LiTFSI, providing key insights for improving LIB performance by addressing electrolyte limitations on graphite anodes.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Performance of sweeping gas membrane distillation for treating produced water: Modeling and experiments

Membrane distillation (MD) has shown promise for desalination of produced water (PW), but there are very few studies reported on the performance of MD with real PW and the characteristics of the fouling and scaling in MD. Among different MD configurations, sweeping gas MD (SGMD) is the least studied configuration. Here we report the application of SGMD for treating high-salinity PW (123 g L -1 ). The SGMD operating conditions were first carefully optimized through pure water MD experiments by varying operating conditions. The flux evaluation was accompanied by a detailed Aspen Custom Modeler simulation based on the electrolyte-NRTL thermodynamic model to better understand the heat and mass transfer in the feed and permeate channel. Supported by experiments, modeling results confirmed the partial condensation of the vapor in the permeate channel. Furthermore, it was concluded that the saturation of the sweeping gas is controlling the overall mass transfer through the membrane. Selected membranes and optimized conditions were then used to conduct short-term and long-term performance tests with PW. In long-term MD test, the concentration of the PW increased by a factor of two (50% water recovery), while the membrane exhibited small flux decline. Elemental analysis showed that strontium and sodium were the major scalant compounds.

42 ENGINEERING↗

An Inorganic‐Rich Solid Electrolyte Interphase for Advanced Lithium‐Metal Batteries in Carbonate Electrolytes

Abstract In carbonate electrolytes, the organic–inorganic solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formed on the Li‐metal anode surface is strongly bonded to Li and experiences the same volume change as Li, thus it undergoes continuous cracking/reformation during plating/stripping cycles. Here, an inorganic‐rich SEI is designed on a Li‐metal surface to reduce its bonding energy with Li metal by dissolving 4 m concentrated LiNO 3 in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as an additive for a fluoroethylene‐carbonate (FEC)‐based electrolyte. Due to the aggregate structure of NO 3 − ions and their participation in the primary Li + solvation sheath, abundant Li 2 O, Li 3 N, and LiN x O y grains are formed in the resulting SEI, in addition to the uniform LiF distribution from the reduction of PF 6 − ions. The weak bonding of the SEI (high interface energy) to Li can effectively promote Li diffusion along the SEI/Li interface and prevent Li dendrite penetration into the SEI. As a result, our designed carbonate electrolyte enables a Li anode to achieve a high Li plating/stripping Coulombic efficiency of 99.55 % (1 mA cm −2 , 1.0 mAh cm −2 ) and the electrolyte also enables a Li||LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 (NMC811) full cell (2.5 mAh cm −2 ) to retain 75 % of its initial capacity after 200 cycles with an outstanding CE of 99.83 %.

Liu, Sufu↗

Modeling assisted synthesis of Zr-doped Li 3-x In 1-x Zr x Cl 6 with ultrahigh ionic conductivity for lithium-ion batteries

All-solid-state lithium-ion batteries (ASSLBs) are an important milestone for the future of energy storage because of their capability of impressive energy density and outstanding safety. However, oxide and sulfide solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) suffer from either low ionic conductivity or poor chemical stability. In contrast, halide-based SSEs, are promising as candidate materials owing to high conductivity, good stability, and broad cathode compatibility. Though element doping of the SSEs is an effective and common approach to further improve their electrochemical properties, dopant exploration and optimization through solely experimental trials are both costly and time-consuming. For this aspect, computational simulations for dopant element and concentration screening are adopted in this research and zirconium is selected as a suitable dopant for Li 3 InCl 6 . Further, the synthesized Li 2.75 In 0.75 Zr 0.25 Cl 6 exhibited Li ionic conductivity of 5.82 x 10 -3 Scm -1 at room temperature, which is the highest among reported halide SSEs. The ASSLB formed with Li 2 CoO 2 -Li 2.75 In 0.75 Zr 0.25 Cl 6 -Li/In delivers a high initial capacity of 129.3 mAh∙g -1 . Conclusively, this work provides an effective approach which combines computational modeling and experimental verification for the development of halide SSEs with improved stability and conductivity. The successful design approach and compelling results provide further possibilities and capabilities in future SSE research.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

An Analysis of Energy Needs and Seawater Extraction Approaches for the Integration of Primary Magnesium Production with Nuclear Power

The cost of primary magnesium production is highly dominated by the energy required to produce the metal. This, along with the current geographical concentration of its production, makes the magnesium price vulnerable as energy-production paradigms begin to rapidly change. In this work, four nuclear-integration pathways for the efficient supply of heat and electricity to magnesium production from a nuclear power plant are considered. A production route using electrified metallothermic reduction is compared to a nuclear-heat-integrated electrolytic pathway. It is shown that the latter can achieve significantly lower primary energy consumption, 261 MJ/kg Mg compared with 416 MJ/kg Mg. The electrolytic pathway can also reduce emissions down to around 2.1 kgCO2/kg Mg, compared to around 34 kgCO2/kg Mg in the Pidgeon process. Beyond energy and emissions, the four pathways considered are also compared to their ability to reduce locational dependence of the production plant and reduce process complexity. This work also highlights future advances in magnesium production with a potential scheme for the efficient extraction of magnesium from seawater with coproduction of desalinated water and the potential of demand-side response from magnesium electrolysis. This is the first work to consider the full integration of primary magnesium production using nuclear cogeneration, and it is hoped the study paves the way for the analysis of economic nuclear integration within metal extraction and manufacturing.

22 - GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

An Inorganic-Rich Solid Electrolyte Interphase for Advanced Lithium-Metal Batteries in Carbonate Electrolytes

In carbonate electrolytes, the organic-inorganic solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formed on the lithium (Li) metal anode surface is strongly bonded to Li and experiences the same volume change as Li, thus it undergoes continuous cracking/reformation during plating/stripping cycles. Here we report, an inorganic-rich SEI is designed on a Li metal surface to reduce its bonding energy with Li metal by dissolving 4 M concentrated LiNO 3 in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as an additive for a fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) based electrolyte. Due to the aggregate structure of NO 3 - ions and its participation in the primary Li + solvation sheath, abundant Li 2 O, Li 3 N, and LiN x O y grains are formed in the resulting SEI, in addition to the uniform LiF distribution from the reduction of PF 6 - ions. The inorganic-rich SEI’s weak bonding (high interface energy) to Li can effectively promote Li diffusion along the SEI/Li interface and prevent Li dendrite penetration into the SEI. As a result, our designed carbonate electrolyte enables a Li anode to achieve a high Li plating/stripping CE of 99.55% (1 mA cm -2 , 1.0 mAh cm -2 ) and the electrolyte also enables a Li||LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 (NMC811) full cell (2.5 mAh cm -2 ) to retain 75%of its initial capacity after 200 cycles with an outstanding CE of 99.83%.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Magma Electrolysis: An update

Electrolytic extraction of O2 from molten lunar soil is conceptually simple and thus a candidate process for producing O2 on the Moon. Possible container and electrode materials are being tested for durability in corrosive high-temperature silicate melts and looking for complications that might increase energy requirements. Gaseous oxygen is being produced by electrolysis of 1-2 gram quantities of silicate melts in spinel (MgAl2O4) crucibles; in these melts, spinel is a stable phase. The concentration of FeO was kept low because FeO decrease O2 production efficiency. Platinum electrodes were placed about 0.5 cm apart in the melt. The spinel crucible was still intact after 40 minutes of electrolysis, when the experiment was halted for examination. The Pt anode was also intact; its Pt was maintained in a dynamci state in which the anode was continuously oxidized but quickly reduced again by the silicate melt, inhibiting migration of Pt away from the anode. In melts with low concentrations of Al2O3 + SiO2 (2 wt percent), the energy of resistance heating was only approximately equal to 10 to 20 percent of the theoretical amount required to produce O2. In melts substantially more concentrated in Al2O3 + SiO2, higher melt viscosity resulted in frothing that, in the worst case, caused high enough melt resistivities to raise the energy requirements to nearly 10 times theoretical. Both Fe and Si are produced at the cathode; in iron-rich melts, a- and c-iron and molten ferrosilicon were observed. Production was also observed at the cathode of a previously unrecognized gas; which is not yet identified. The solubility of metallic species was measured in silicate melts. They are too low to reduce significantly the efficiency of O2 production.

Colson, Russell O.↗

Building a Prospective LCA Framework to Analyze Emerging Technologies in a Dynamic System Context

NREL's Lifecycle Analysis Integration into Opensource Numerical models (LiAISON) framework computes temporally explicit life cycle impacts and resource uses for specific technologies (foreground) in a dynamic system context (background). LiAISON computes results for a series of environmental mid-points enabling an analysis of prospective tradeoffs of emerging technologies toward 2100. This prospective feature is of critical importance when analyzing present-day emerging technologies whose large-scale impacts during deployment phases will occur in different, future system contexts. LiAISON systematically accounts for dynamic system changes by applying an integrated background of the future energy-economy-land-climate system, generated by exogenous integrated assessment models (IAMs). Using IAM scenarios, LiAISON generates a time-series of life cycle inventory (LCI) databases, which are then used to calculate the impacts per functional unit per time step. This expands current practice of using static, future system assumptions, e.g., a specific grid-mix each year. Further, IAM scenarios are provided in a standardized format of shared-socioeconomic pathways (SSP) and representative concentration pathways (RCP) combinations. These are coherent, regularly, published, and peer-reviewed scenario combinations that establish a reproducible and standardized societal and climate mitigation futures context. They are comparable across IAMs and expand the system boundary of the traditional LCA by including dimensions such as societal and behavioral changes. We apply the framework to assess two emerging Power-to-Hydrogen processes, high temperature electrolysis using solid oxide fuel cell (HT-SOE) and polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis (PEME). We compare the technologies to a baseline Hydrogen production process via steam methane reforming. Despite the decarbonized electricity systems' beneficial effects on the PtH2 processes' carbon intensities, we find environmental tradeoffs, which require technology improvements via learning-by-doing to be alleviated. Future work via ongoing collaborations will focus on linking the framework to other energy-economy-land-climate models and open-source life cycle inventory databases.

ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Parametric Study of the Influence of Support Type, Presence of Platinum on Support, and Ionomer Content on the Microstructure of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Catalyst Layers

We report Ultra-small angle X-ray scattering (USAXS) was employed to investigate the effects of carbon support type, the presence of platinum on carbon, and ionomer loading on the microstructure of polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) catalyst layers (CLs). Particle size distributions (PSDs), obtained from fitting the measured scattering data were used to interpret the size of carbon aggregates (40–300 nm) and agglomerates (>400 nm) from two-component carbon/ionomer and three-component platinum/carbon/ionomer CLs. Two types of carbon supports were investigated: high surface area carbon (HSC) and Vulcan XC-72. CLs with a range of perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) ionomer to carbon (I/C) ratios (0.2–1.2) and also with perfluoroimide acid (PFIA) ionomer were studied to evaluate the effect of ionomer on CL microstructure. The carbon type, the presence of platinum, and ionomer loading were all found to significantly impact carbon agglomeration. The extent of Pt/C agglomeration in the CL was found to increase with increasing ionomer and platinum concentration and to decrease with increasing carbon surface area. Platinum electrochemically-active surface area (ECSA) and local oxygen transport resistance (R nF ) were correlated to the CL microstructure to yield relationships affecting electrode performance.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Full Concentration Gradient-Tailored Li-Rich Layered Oxides for High-Energy Lithium-Ion Batteries

Lithium-rich layered oxides (LLOs) are prospective cathode materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), but severe voltage decay and energy attenuation with cycling still hinder their practical applications. In this study, a series of full concentration gradient-tailored agglomerated-sphere LLOs are designed with linearly decreasing Mn and linearly increasing Ni and Co from the particle center to the surface. The gradient-tailored LLOs exhibit noticeably reduced voltage decay, enhanced rate performance, improved cycle stability, and thermal stability. Without any material modifications or electrolyte optimizations, the gradient-tailored LLO with medium-slope shows the best electrochemical performance, with a very low average voltage decay of 0.8 mV per cycle as well as a capacity retention of 88.4% within 200 cycles at 200 mA g –1 . These excellent findings are due to spinel structure suppression, electrochemical stress optimization, and Jahn-Teller effect inhibition. Further investigation shows that the gradient-tailored LLO reduces the thermal release percentage by as much as about 41% when the battery is charged to 4.4 V. This study provides an effective method to suppress the voltage decay of LLOs for further practical utilization in LIBs and also puts forward a bulk-structure design strategy to prepare better electrode materials for different rechargeable batteries.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

The Shape Factor for Pits and Its Impact on Pit Stability

This study employs the finite element method (FEM) to predict the impact of pit shape on pit stability via shape factors of various pit geometries relevant to localized corrosion. Lower values of the shape factor indicate an increased ease in maintaining pit stability. Analyzed geometries include undercut pits, bispherical pit-within-pit structures, and covered pits with perforated (lacy) covers. The effect of the water layer thickness, transport properties of the electrolyte inside and outside the pit, and cathode location on the pit shape factor were also explored. Results show that occluded pits exhibit lower shape factors than open ones, with disk-shaped pits decreasing further as c/r ratio and occlusion angle increase. The findings also suggest minimal influence from a secondary pit if the primary remains active. An equation is presented that quantifies the impact of lacy covers, revealing significant shape factor value reduction. Additionally, high salt concentrations inside pits have a limited stabilizing effect compared to geometry, while thin water layers and adjacent cathodic/sinks reduce pit stability.

Shehi, A. (ORCID:0009000271548041)↗

Study to define and verify the personal oral hygiene requirements for extended manned space flight: Oral physiology and microbiology in Skylab manned space missions

Methods for metabolic fingerprinting of pathogenic oral bacteria were developed and the effects of Skylab missions on salivary electrolyte levels were studied. High resolution gas liquid chromatographic (GLC) and pyrolysis-GLC procedures were used to obtain metabolic profiles of closely related bacteria associated with dental caries and periodontal disease. It was found that the GLC procedures provide a practical and reproducible means of obtaining metabolic markers for identifying closely related strains of these organisms. Fractions of stimulated whole saliva samples from the prime and back-up crews of the three Skylab missions were used to measure salivary electrolyte concentrations. All the electrolytes previously reported as having increased in urine and feces during the missions were assessed. Sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous and chloride were studied. A decrease in sodium and an increase in magnesium were observed, but the mineral imbalances attributable to the mission-related increases in urinary electrolytes were not detected.

Brown, L. R.↗

Electrolyte Engineering for Efficient Electrochemical Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia on a Titanium Electrode

Nitrates from agricultural runoff and industrial waste streams are a notorious waste product and hazardous pollutant. Traditional electrochemical water remediation approaches aim to solve this problem by converting nitrates to environmentally benign N 2 while minimizing the production of environmentally hazardous side products such as ammonia and nitrous oxide in a process known as “denitrification”. We modify this concept and outline an opportunity to optimize the conversion of nitrates into ammonia, which is also a key commodity product used as a fertilizer, potential fuel, and chemical precursor. The electrochemical conversion of nitrates to ammonia recycles the fixed nitrogen and offers an appealing and supplementary alternative to the energy- and resource-intensive Haber-Bosch process. In this study, we investigated the effect of varying electrochemical conditions (pH, nitrate concentration, and applied potential) on the selective reduction of nitrate to ammonia at a titanium cathode. We observed that high concentrations of both protons and nitrate ions are needed to achieve high selectivity, reaching a peak of 82% Faradaic efficiency to ammonia at an applied potential of -1 V versus RHE and a partial current density to NH 3 of -22 mA/cm 2 , using 0.4 M [NO 3 – ] at pH ~0.77. The Ti electrode, as a poor hydrogen evolution catalyst with notable corrosion resistance, provides a large window of operating conditions to achieve high selectivity in the reduction of nitrate anions. Stability of the system was evaluated, and we found a high Faradaic efficiency throughout the course of an 8 h experiment. After electrochemical testing, titanium hydride was observed at the cathode surface. We also show a preliminary technoeconomic study, indicating that it may be feasible to employ an electrochemical strategy for the production of ammonium nitrate.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Fundamental benchmarking of the discharge properties of negative electrodes in lead acid batteries

The unprecedented scale of energy storage deployment needed to allow high penetration of intermittent renewable energy sources into the electrical grid places significant economic cost and performance targets on battery technologies. Lead batteries, owing to their highly abundant and inexpensive raw materials, can be considered an important solution to grid storage as long as they achieve high material utilization, fast recharge rates, and long cycle life. To address the limitations in material utilization, we need to revisit the electrochemical processes during the discharge step and answer the following question: what are the fundamental limits of the discharge reaction? In this work we discuss how well-defined lead metal surfaces with nanometer scale roughness allow us to resolve the accessible discharge capacity for both faradaic and non-faradaic processes as a function of electrolyte concentration and in the presence of traditional additives. The direct connection between PbSO 4 layer morphology and discharge rates gives us important insights on the mechanism of discharge as related to the dissolution and passivation events. In conclusion, this work sets the stage for reimagining the design of lead batteries with implications to grid storage applications.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Recreating Fuel Cell Catalyst Degradation in Aqueous Environments for Identical-Location Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy Studies

The recent surge in interest of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) for heavy-duty vehicles increases the demand on the durability of oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalysts used in the fuel cell cathode. This prioritizes efforts aimed at understanding and subsequently controlling catalyst degradation. Identical-location scanning transmission electron microscopy (IL-STEM) is a powerful method that enables precise characterization of degradation processes in individual catalyst nanoparticles across various stages of cycling. Recreating the degradation processes that occur in PEMFC membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) within the aqueous cell used for IL-STEM experiments is vital for generating an accurate understanding of these processes. In this work, we investigate the type and degree of catalyst degradation achieved by cycling in an aqueous cell compared to a PEMFC MEA. While significant degradation is observed in IL-STEM experiments performed on a traditional Pt catalyst using the standard accelerated stress test potential window (0.6-0.95 VRHE), degradation of a PtCo catalyst designed for heavy-duty vehicle use is very limited compared to that observed in MEAs. We therefore explore various experimental parameters such as temperature, acid type, acid concentration, ionomer content, and potential window to identify conditions that reproduce the degradation observed in MEAs. We find that by extending the cycling potential window to 0.4-1.0 V RHE in an electrolyte containing Pt ions, the degraded particle size distribution and alloy composition better match that observed in MEAs. In particular, these conditions increase the relative contribution of Ostwald ripening, which appears to play a more significant role in the degradation of larger alloy particles supported on high-surface-area carbons than coalescence. Results from this work highlight the potential for discrepancies between ex situ aqueous experiments and MEA tests. While different catalysts may require a unique modification to the AST protocol, strategies provided in this work enable future in situ and identical-location experiments that will play an important role in the development of robust catalysts for heavy-duty vehicle applications.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗

Electrochemical Performance of Mixed Redox-Active Organic Molecules in Redox Flow Batteries

Designing electrolytes based on mixture of different organic redox active molecules brings the opportunity of enhancing the volumetric energy density of flow batteries and removes the requirement of high solubility for individual organic species in the mixture. Here, in the present work, we conduct computational and experimental analysis to investigate the electrochemical performance of mixed redox-active organic molecules. A zero-dimensional transient model is employed to investigate the changes in the half-cell potential and the concentrations and partial currents of individual redox reactions in a mixture of organic molecules over time. The model demonstrates the effects of individual properties of species such as kinetic rate constants, mass transfer coefficients, concentration ratios and standard redox potentials and reports the effect of energy-losing homogenous chemical redox reaction on the voltage efficiency and concentration ratios of the mixed species. Pairs of anthraquinone negolyte species were selected for an experimental case study. A mixture of 2,6-N-TSAQ and 2,6-DHAQ showed 40% increase in the volumetric energy density compared to the performance of 2,6-DHAQ alone. Based on the results of the experimental and computational analysis, we propose guidelines for the design of suitable mixed redox-active organic species.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗