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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 523 records · Page 29
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

The Impact of Lithium Anode Interface on Capacity Fade in Polymer Electrolyte-Based Solid-State Batteries

This study investigates the Li stripping-plating morphology and failure mechanisms in full cells consisting of a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) with two commercial Li anodes: Li chip and Li foil. The primary identified failure mechanism of the SPE cell is capacity fade, regardless of the Li manufacturer. While the cathode’s role in capacity fade is evident, the Li anode significantly influences cycling performance, with Li foil cells cycling 50% longer than Li chip cells, a statistical difference. Further, post-mortem scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results attribute the Li chip’s faster capacity fade to a loss of contact and continuous growth of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). Conversely, Li foil maintains consistent contact with the solid polymer, displaying a thin and stable SEI. Additionally, failure mechanisms between a gel electrolyte in previous work and the dry SPE are compared.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
NASA NTRS1976

Microwave power tubes for space applications

Feasibility evaluations of klystron amplifiers for conversion of solar power in synchronous orbit into microwave power at 2.4 GHz and transmission to earth were carried out. It was found that amplitrons and klystrons, using a depressed collector augmentation, can achieve efficiencies in excess of 80% if the power output is kept higher than 50 kW. Body wound selenoid provides the needed beam-focusing field. Narrow bandwidth requirements permit a low cathode loading density of 0.5 A/sq cm produced at approximately 850 centigrades. Emission tests indicate a potential life expectancy of 20 to 40 years.

Kosmahl, H.↗
DOE OSTI2014

Lignin Based Carbon Materials for Energy Storage Applications

The implementation of Li-ion battery technology into electric and hybrid electric vehicles and portable electronic devices such as smart phones, laptops and tablets, creates a demand for efficient, economic and sustainable materials for energy storage. However, the high cost and long processing time associated with manufacturing battery-grade anode and cathode materials are two big constraints for lowering the total cost of batteries and environmentally friendly electric vehicles. Lignin, a byproduct of the pulp and paper industry and biorefinery, is one of the most abundant and inexpensive natural biopolymers. It can be efficiently converted to low cost carbon fibers with optimal properties for use as anode materials. Recent developments in the preparation of lignin precursors and conversion to carbon fiber-based anode materials have created a new class of anode materials with excellent electrochemical characteristics suitable for immediate use in existing Li- or Na-ion battery technologies.

carbon fiber↗
DOE OSTI2012

Direction of CRT waste glass processing: Electronics recycling industry communication

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Given a large flow rate of CRT glass {approx}10% of the panel glass stream will be leaded. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The supply of CRT waste glass exceeded demand in 2009. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Recyclers should use UV-light to detect lead oxide during the separation process. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Recycling market analysis techniques and results are given for CRT glass. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Academic initiatives and the necessary expansion of novel product markets are discussed. - Abstract: Cathode Ray Tube, CRT, waste glass recycling has plagued glass manufacturers, electronics recyclers and electronics waste policy makers for decades because the total supply of waste glass exceeds demand, and the formulations of CRT glass are ill suited for most reuse options. The solutions are to separate the undesirable components (e.g. lead oxide) in the waste and create demand for new products. Achieving this is no simple feat, however, as there are many obstacles: limited knowledge of waste glass composition; limited automation in the recycling process; transportation of recycled material; and a weak and underdeveloped market. Thus one of the main goals of this paper is to advise electronic glass recyclers on how to best manage a diverse supply of glass waste and successfully market to end users. Further, this paper offers future directions for academic and industry research. To develop the recommendations offered here, a combination of approaches were used: (1) a thorough study of historic trends in CRT glass chemistry; (2) bulk glass collection and analysis of cullet from a large-scale glass recycler; (3) conversations with industry members and a review of potential applications; and (4) evaluation of the economic viability of specific uses for recycled CRT glass. If academia and industry can solve these problems (for example by creating a database of composition organized by manufacturer and glass source) then the reuse of CRT glass can be increased.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2024

Phloroglucinol–2,6‐Diaminoanthraquinone as a Durable Redox Mediator for Enhancing Conversion Reaction Kinetics in Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries

Abstract Lithium‐sulfur batteries, despite being a promising solution for next‐generation secondary batteries, require substantial efforts to overcome the challenges of sluggish sulfur redox kinetics, polysulfides shuttling, and Li metal instability before achieving practical viability. Conventional strategies that utilize metal catalysts or soluble redox mediators (RMs) are limited by either impractical producing processes or unsatisfactory service life. Herein, an electrochemically active organic material, phloroglucinol – 2,6‐diaminoanthraquinone (PG‐DAAQ) is synthesized through a green and facile polymerization process to better resolve these issues. Serving as an RM at the cathode, PG‐DAAQ exhibits enduring redox activity within the sulfur operating potential window, leading to enhanced redox kinetics and sulfur utilization. Remarkably, even without any metal elements, PG‐DAAQ exhibits an excellent affinity to polysulfides, thereby suppressing the shuttling and facilitating the formation of a more favorable solid‐electrolyte interface to stabilize Li deposition at the anode. As a result, Li‐S cells employing PG‐DAAQ show significantly enhanced cycling and rate performances than the control cells. Even with a low electrolyte‐to‐sulfur ratio of 6, pouch cells with PG‐DAAQ deliver a reversible discharge capacity of 821 mA h g −1 after 100 cycles at a C/10 rate.

Lai, Tianxing↗
DOE OSTI2018

Potential-specific structure at the hematite-electrolyte interface

The atomic-scale structure of interfaces between metal oxides and aqueous electrolytes controls their catalytic, geochemical, and corrosion behavior. Measurements that probe these interfaces in situ provide important details of ion and solvent arrangements, but atomically precise structural models do not exist for common oxide-electrolyte interfaces far from equilibrium. Using a novel cell, we measured the structure of the hematite (a-Fe 2 O 3 ) (110$\bar{2}$)-electrolyte interface under controlled electrochemical bias using synchrotron crystal truncation rod X ray scattering. At increasingly cathodic potentials, charge-compensating protonation of surface oxygen groups increases the coverage of specifically bound water while adjacent water layers displace outwardly and became disordered. Returning to open circuit potential leaves the surface in a persistent metastable protonation state. The flux of current and ions at applied potential is thus regulated by a unique interfacial electrolyte environment, suggesting that electrical double layer models should be adapted to the dynamically changing interfacial structure far from equilibrium.

electrochemistry↗
DOE OSTI2014

Photo annealing effect on p-doped inverted organic solar cell

We report the transient positive photo annealing effect in which over 600% boost of power conversion efficiency was observed in inverted organic photovoltaic devices (OPV) made from P3HT/PCBM by spray method, after 2 hrs of constant solar AM 1.5 irradiation at low temperature. This is opposite to usual photodegradation of OPV, and cannot be explained by thermal activation alone since the mere temperature effect could only account for 30% of the enhancement. We have investigated the temperature dependence, cell geometry, oxygen influence, and conclude that, for p-doped active layer at room temperature, the predominant mechanism is photo-desorption of O{sub 2}, which eliminates electron traps and reduces space charge screening. As temperature decreases, thermal activation and deep trap-state filling start to show noticeable effect on the enhancement of photocurrent at intermediate low temperature (T = 125 K). At very low temperature, the dominant mechanism for photo annealing is trap-filling, which significantly reduces recombination between free and trapped carriers. At all temperature, photo annealing effect depends on illumination direction from cathode or anode. We also explained the large fluctuation of photocurrent by the capture/reemit of trapped electrons from shallow electron traps of O{sub 2}{sup -} generated by photo-doping. Our study has demonstrated the dynamic process of photo-doping and photo-desorption, and shown that photo annealing in vacuum can be an efficient method to improve OPV device efficiency.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Fe-N 4 O-C Nanoplates Covalently Bonding on Graphene for Efficient CO 2 Electroreduction and Zn-CO 2 Batteries

Electrochemical carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) reduction into value-added products holds great promise in moving toward carbon neutrality but remains a grand challenge due to lack of efficient electrocatalysts. Herein, the nucleophilic substitution reaction is elaborately harnessed to synthesize carbon nanoplates with a Fe-N 4 O configuration anchored onto graphene substrate (Fe-N 4 O-C/Gr) through covalent linkages. Density functional theory calculations demonstrate the unique configuration of Fe-N 4 O with one oxygen (O) atom in the axial direction not only suppresses the competing hydrogen evolution reaction, but also facilitates the desorption of *CO intermediate compared with the commonly planar single-atomic Fe sites. The Fe-N 4 O-C/Gr shows excellent performance in the electroreduction of CO 2 into carbon monoxide (CO) with an impressive Faradaic efficiency of 98.3% at -0.7 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and a high turnover frequency of 3511 h -1 . Furthermore, as a cathode catalyst in an aqueous zinc (Zn)-CO 2 battery, the Fe-N 4 O-C/Gr achieves a high CO Faradaic efficiency (≈91%) at a discharge current density of 3 mA cm -2 and long-term stability over 74 h. Here this work opens up a new route to simultaneously modulate the geometric and electronic structure of single-atomic catalysts toward efficient CO 2 conversion.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2013

Analysis of SOFCs Using Reference Electrodes

Reference electrodes are frequently applied to isolate the performance of one electrode in a solid oxide fuel cell. However, reference electrode simulations raise doubt to veracity of data collected using reference electrodes. The simulations predict that the reported performance for the one electrode will frequently contain performance of both electrodes. Nonetheless, recent reports persistently treat data so collected as ideally isolated. This work confirms the predictions of the reference electrode simulations on two SOFC designs, and to provides a method of validating the data measured in the 3-electrode configuration. Validation is based on the assumption that a change in gas composition to one electrode does not affect the impedance of the other electrode at open circuit voltage. This assumption is supported by a full physics simulation of the SOFC. Three configurations of reference electrode and cell design are experimentally examined using various gas flows and two temperatures. Impedance data are subjected to deconvolution analysis and equivalent circuit fitting and approximate polarization resistances of the cathode and anode are determined. The results demonstrate that the utility of reference electrodes is limited and often wholly inappropriate. Reported impedances and single electrode polarization values must be scrutinized on this basis.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2014

Vacuum encapsulated hermetically sealed diamond amplified cathode capsule and method for making same

A vacuum encapsulated, hermetically sealed cathode capsule for generating an electron beam of secondary electrons, which generally includes a cathode element having a primary emission surface adapted to emit primary electrons, an annular insulating spacer, a diamond window element comprising a diamond material and having a secondary emission surface adapted to emit secondary electrons in response to primary electrons impinging on the diamond window element, a first cold-weld ring disposed between the cathode element and the annular insulating spacer and a second cold-weld ring disposed between the annular insulating spacer and the diamond window element. The cathode capsule is formed by a vacuum cold-weld process such that the first cold-weld ring forms a hermetical seal between the cathode element and the annular insulating spacer and the second cold-weld ring forms a hermetical seal between the annular spacer and the diamond window element whereby a vacuum encapsulated chamber is formed within the capsule.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2022

Design of Graded Cathode Catalyst Layers with Various Ionomers for Fuel Cell Application

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) powered by green hydrogen (H2) have become a promising alternative to conventional hydrocarbon-fueled power generators. Despite technological advancements, further improvements in efficiency, durability, and low-cost production are required for the widespread adoption of PEMFCs. Though numerous approaches to improve PEMFC electrodes have been reported, most strategies utilize a single material set (e.g., one combination of catalyst and ionomer) to improve performance. Alternatively, anisotropic (graded) electrode structures with locally tunable properties may yield superior electrode performance due to improved ionic and gas phase transport. In this work, graded cathode catalyst layers (CCLs) incorporating different ionomers (Nafion D2020, Aquivion D79-25BS, and HOPI) were designed and prepared. Performance screening shows that some of these graded electrode structures have comparable performance to optimized single-ionomer electrode structures (D2020) suggesting some synergistic benefit. Additionally, we show that electrodes with lower equivalent weight (EW) D79 ionomer near the membrane and D2020 ionomer near the gas diffusion media outperformed electrodes with the inverted configuration. Finally, EIS analysis shows some graded ionomer structures (e.g. D79/D2020) have better than expected H+ conductivity, generally leading to better electrode performance. However, further optimization of ionomer content and catalyst ink formulations is needed to improve overall PEMFC performance.

DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2016

Fuel cell electrode interconnect contact material encapsulation and method

A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cell cassettes each including a fuel cell with an anode and a cathode. Each fuel cell cassette also includes an electrode interconnect adjacent to the anode or the cathode for providing electrical communication between an adjacent fuel cell cassette and the anode or the cathode. The interconnect includes a plurality of electrode interconnect protrusions defining a flow passage along the anode or the cathode for communicating oxidant or fuel to the anode or the cathode. An electrically conductive material is disposed between at least one of the electrode interconnect protrusions and the anode or the cathode in order to provide a stable electrical contact between the electrode interconnect and the anode or cathode. An encapsulating arrangement segregates the electrically conductive material from the flow passage thereby, preventing volatilization of the electrically conductive material in use of the fuel cell stack.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2016

Rejuvenation of automotive fuel cells

A process for rejuvenating fuel cells has been demonstrated to improve the performance of polymer exchange membrane fuel cells with platinum/ionomer electrodes. The process involves dehydrating a fuel cell and exposing at least the cathode of the fuel cell to dry gas (nitrogen, for example) at a temperature higher than the operating temperature of the fuel cell. The process may be used to prolong the operating lifetime of an automotive fuel cell.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2017

Structural Dynamics and Evolution of Bismuth Electrodes during Electrochemical Reduction of CO 2 in Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquid Solutions

Real-time changes in the composition and structure of bismuth electrodes used for catalytic conversion of CO2 into CO were examined via X-ray absorption spectroscopy (including XANES and EXAFS), electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM), and in situ X-ray reflectivity (XR). Measurements were performed with bismuth electrodes immersed in acetonitrile (MeCN) solutions containing a 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ([BMIM]+) ionic liquid promoter or electrochemically inactive tetrabutylammonium supporting electrolytes (TBAPF6 and TBAOTf). Altogether, these measurements show that bismuth electrodes are originally a mixture of bismuth oxides (including Bi2O3) and metallic bismuth (Bi0) and that the reduction of oxidized bismuth species to Bi0 is fully achieved under potentials at which CO2 activation takes place. Furthermore, EQCM measurements conducted during cyclic voltammetry revealed that a bismuth-coated quartz crystal exhibits significant shifts in resistance (ΔR) prior to the onset of CO2 reduction near -1.75 V vs Ag/AgCl and pronounced hysteresis in frequency (Δf) and ΔR, which suggests significant changes in roughness or viscosity at the Bi/[BMIM]+ solution interface. In situ XR performed on rhombohedral Bi (001) oriented films indicates that extensive restructuring of the bismuth film cathodes takes place upon polarization to potentials more negative than -1.6 V vs Ag/AgCl, which is characterized by a decrease of the Bi (001) Bragg peak intensity of ≥50% in [BMIM]OTf solutions in the presence and absence of CO2. Over 90% of the reflectivity is recovered during the anodic half-scan, suggesting that the structural changes are mostly reversible. In contrast, such a phenomenon is not observed for thin Bi (001) oriented films in solutions of tetrabutylammonium salts that do not promote CO2 reduction. Overall, these results highlight that Bi electrodes undergo significant potential-dependent chemical and structural transformations in the presence of [BMIM]+-based electrolytes, including the reduction of bismuth oxide to bismuth metal and changes in roughness and near-surface viscosity.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2016

Protective conversion coating on mixed-metal substrates and methods thereof

Mixed-metal automotive vehicle bodies-in-white comprising ferrous metal surfaces, zinc surfaces, aluminum alloy surfaces, and magnesium alloy surfaces are cleaned and immersed in an aqueous bath comprising an adhesion promoter and an aqueous electrocoat bath (the adhesion promoter may be in the electrocoat bath. The adhesion promoter, which may be a cerium salt, is selected to react with each metal in the body surfaces to form an oxide layer that provides corrosion resistance for the surface and adherence for the deposited polymeric paint coating. The body is cathodic in the electrocoat deposition.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Alloy based electrochemical catalyst for conversion of carbon dioxide to hydrocarbons

An electrocatalyst comprising (i) carbon nanospikes and (ii) copper alloy nanoparticles containing copper and at least one noble metal and residing on and/or between the carbon nanospikes. Also disclosed herein is a method of producing the electrocatalyst. Also described herein is a method for converting carbon dioxide into hydrocarbons by use of the above-described electrocatalyst. The method for producing hydrocarbons more specifically involves contacting the electrocatalyst with an aqueous solution of a bicarbonate salt while the aqueous solution is in contact with a source of carbon dioxide, and electrically powering the electrocatalyst as a cathode at negative potential condition while the cathode is in electrical communication with a counter electrode electrically powered as an anode, to convert the carbon dioxide into hydrocarbons containing at least four carbon atoms and composed of only carbon and hydrogen.

Rondinone, Adam J.↗