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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 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Layered Electrode Architectures Enabled by Holey Graphene Hosts

Battery electrodes are typically prepared using a slurry-based method, where high boiling point organic solvents are typically used with a polymer binder to disperse active electrode materials and conductive carbon additives followed by casting into current collector sheets. In this process, the use of organic solvents are environmentally hazardous, energy intensive, and time-consuming, while polymeric binders add weight and can undergo parasitic reactions during battery cycling. Here we discuss the use of a unique conductive carbon nanomaterial, namely holey graphene, as a multifunctional host that can be processed via a facile, solvent-free, binder-free, cold pressing method to prepare electrodes with unique architectures. This approach can accommodate a broad range of battery chemistries, such as lithium oxygen/carbon dioxide (Li-O2/CO2), lithium sulfur/selenium (Li-S/Se), and various lithium ion chemistries. The successful use of dry, cold compression allows the convenient modification of electrode mass loading with unique architectures containing active materials randomly mixed or layered with single or multiple layers of one or more active materials. In the conventional slurry-based electrode fabrication method, it is difficult, if not impossible, to achieve such layered architectures. In particular, the layered electrode architectures from the dry, cold press approach are easy to fabricate without significantly sacrificing device performance, and are amenable to continuous roll-to-roll dry processing. In addition, these architectures offer unprecedented perspectives on the battery material loading vs. utilization efficiency, as well as enabling unique characterization opportunities to advance mechanistic understanding of various battery chemistries. Potential applications of this unique electrode fabrication approach for solid-state batteries will also be discussed.

holey graphene, batteries, electrode architecture,↗
NASA NTRS1980

Microstructure of the combustion zone: Thin-binder AP-polymer sandwiches

Experimental results are summarized for systematic quench-burning tests on ammonium perchlorate-HC binder sandwiches with binder thicknesses in the range 10 - 150 microns. Tests included three binders (polysulfide, polybutadiene-acrylonitrile, and hydroxy terminated polybutadiene), and pressures from 1.4 to 14 MPa. In addition, deflagration limits were determined in terms of binder thickness and pressure. Results are discussed in terms of a qualitative theory of sandwich burning consolidated from various sources. Some aspects of the observed results are explained only speculatively.

Price, E. W.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Magnetic record support

The magnetic layer of a magnetic record support is coated with a thin film of a polymer with a siloxane bond. The magnetic layer consists of a thin film obtained by vacuum metallization, cathode sputtering or dispersion of a ferromagnetic metal powder in a binder. The polymer with a siloxane bond is produced by the polymerization of an organic silicon compound which inherently contains or is able to form this bond. Polymerization is preferably performed by plasma polymerization.

Nakayama, M.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Producing Zirconium Diboride Components with Complex, Near-Net Shape Geometries by Aqueous Room-Temperature Injection Molding

Room-temperature injection molding is proposed as a novel, low-cost and more energy efficient manufacturing process capable of forming complex-shaped zirconium diboride (ZrB2) parts. This innovative processing method utilized aqueous suspensions with high powder loading and a minimal amount (5 vol.) of water-soluble polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), which was used as a viscosity modifier. Rheological characterization was performed to evaluate the room-temperature flow properties of ZrB2-PVP suspensions. ZrB2 specimens were fabricated with high green body strength and were machinable prior to binder removal despite their low polymer content. After binder burnout and pressureless sintering, the bulk density and microstructure of specimens were characterized using Archimedes technique and scanning electron microscopy. X-Ray Diffraction was used to determine the phase compositions present in sintered specimens. Ultimate strength of sintered specimens will be determined using ASTM C1323-10 compressive C-ring test.

Near-Net Shape Forming↗
NASA NTRS2007

Nanorod-Based Fast-Response Pressure-Sensitive Paints

A proposed program of research and development would be devoted to exploitation of nanomaterials in pressuresensitive paints (PSPs), which are used on wind-tunnel models for mapping surface pressures associated with flow fields. Heretofore, some success has been achieved in measuring steady-state pressures by use of PSPs, but success in measuring temporally varying pressures has been elusive because of the inherent slowness of the optical responses of these materials. A PSP contains a dye that luminesces in a suitable wavelength range in response to photoexcitation in a shorter wavelength range. The luminescence is quenched by oxygen at a rate proportional to the partial pressure of oxygen and thus proportional to the pressure of air. As a result, the intensity of luminescence varies inversely with the pressure of air. The major problem in developing a PSP that could be easily applied to a wind-tunnel model and could be useful for measuring rapidly varying pressure is to provide very high gas diffusivity for rapid, easy transport of oxygen to and from active dye molecules. Most PSPs include polymer-base binders, which limit the penetration of oxygen to dye molecules, thereby reducing responses to pressure fluctuations. The proposed incorporation of nanomaterials (somewhat more specifically, nanorods) would result in paints having nanostructured surfaces that, relative to conventional PSP surfaces, would afford easier and more nearly complete access of oxygen molecules to dye molecules. One measure of greater access is effective surface area: For a typical PSP as proposed applied to a given solid surface, the nanometer-scale structural features would result in an exposed surface area more than 100 times that of a conventional PSP, and the mass of proposed PSP needed to cover the surface would be less than tenth of the mass of the conventional PSP. One aspect of the proposed development would be to synthesize nanorods of Si/SiO2, in both tangle-mat and regular- array forms, by use of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and wet chemical processes, respectively. The rods would be coated with a PSP dye, and the resulting PSP signals would be compared with those obtained from PSP dye coats on conventional support materials. Another aspect of the proposed development would be to seek to exploit the quantum properties of nanorods of a suitable semiconductor (possibly GaN), which would be synthesized by CVD. These quantum properties of semiconductor nanorods include narrow-wavelength-band optical absorption and emission characteristics that vary with temperature. The temperature sensitivity might enable simultaneous measurement of fluctuating temperature and pressure and to provide a temperature correction for the PSP response.

Bencic, Timothy↗
NASA NTRS2011

Cathodic electrocatalyst layer for electrochemical generation of hydrogen peroxide

A cathodic gas diffusion electrode for the electrochemical production of aqueous hydrogen peroxide solutions. The cathodic gas diffusion electrode comprises an electrically conductive gas diffusion substrate and a cathodic electrocatalyst layer supported on the gas diffusion substrate. A novel cathodic electrocatalyst layer comprises a cathodic electrocatalyst, a substantially water-insoluble quaternary ammonium compound, a fluorocarbon polymer hydrophobic agent and binder, and a perfluoronated sulphonic acid polymer. An electrochemical cell using the novel cathodic electrocatalyst layer has been shown to produce an aqueous solution having between 8 and 14 weight percent hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, such electrochemical cells have shown stable production of hydrogen peroxide solutions over 1000 hours of operation including numerous system shutdowns.

Rhodes, Christopher P.↗
NASA NTRS1967

Polymer Research

Network density of filled composites, nitroso compound reactions with hydrocarbons, cryogenic bladder bag materials, thermoplastic rubbers as binders, and other polymer research studies

COMPOSITE MATERIAL↗
NASA NTRS1967

Polymer research

Stress-strain distribution in elastomers, and chemical and physical properties of prepolymers, rigid urethane foam, and thermoplastic rubbers for composite solid propellant binders

ELASTOMER↗
NASA NTRS2002

Proton conducting membrane using a solid acid

A solid acid material is used as a proton conducting membrane in an electrochemical device. The solid acid material can be one of a plurality of different kinds of materials. A binder can be added, and that binder can be either a nonconducting or a conducting binder. Nonconducting binders can be, for example, a polymer or a glass. A conducting binder enables the device to be both proton conducting and electron conducting. The solid acid material has the general form M.sub.a H.sub.b (XO.sub.t).sub.c.

Chisholm, Calum↗
NASA NTRS2006

Proton conducting membrane using a solid acid

A solid acid material is used as a proton conducting membrane in an electrochemical device. The solid acid material can be one of a plurality of different kinds of materials. A binder can be added, and that binder can be either a nonconducting or a conducting binder. Nonconducting binders can be, for example, a polymer or a glass. A conducting binder enables the device to be both proton conducting and electron conducting.

Haile, Sossina M.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Covalent adaptable networks for electrolyte–binder integration in recyclable lithium metal batteries

Lithium-metal batteries (LMBs) are considered a promising next-generation energy storage technology due to their exceptionally high energy density. However, the development of solid polymer electrolytes and cathode binders for LMBs faces critical challenges, including interfacial instability, poor recyclability, and growing environmental concerns. In particular, current systems often rely on non-recyclable components featuring permanently crosslinked networks and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), such as poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), which cause battery waste and environmental harm. Herein, we introduce a multifunctional covalent adaptable network (CAN) platform based on thermally reversible Diels–Alder (DA) chemistry, designed for dual functionality as a CAN-based electrolyte (CAE) and a CAN-based cathode binder. The CAE achieves high ionic conductivity and strong storage modulus (1.4 mS cm −1 and ∼ 10 5 Pa at room temperature, respectively) and enables stable long-term cycling in symmetric Li||Li cells for over 2000 h with low overpotential. When it is applied as a cathode binder in LiFePO 4 (LFP) composite electrodes (C-LFP), the CAN matrix significantly reduces interfacial resistance and enhances discharge capacity compared to conventional PVDF-based systems. Thermal treatment induces self-healing at the cathode–electrolyte interface, further improving contact and yielding a discharge capacity of 150 mAh g −1 at 0.5 C. Moreover, the dynamic CAN architecture allows efficient recovery and reuse of lithium salts from spent electrolytes through retro-DA reactions under mild conditions (∼80 °C), establishing a low-energy, cost-effective recycling pathway. In conclusion, this work presents a scalable and sustainable strategy for high-performance LMBs by integrating recyclability, interfacial healing, and PFAS-free design, offering a holistic solution aligned with circular economy principles and next-generation battery demands.

Diels–Alder↗
NASA NTRS2006

Solid Rocket Fuel Constitutive Theory and Polymer Cure

Solid Rocket Fuel is a complex composite material for which no general constitutive theory, based on first principles, has been developed. One of the principles such a relation would depend on is the morphology of the binder. A theory of polymer curing is required to determine this morphology. During work on such a theory an algorithm was developed for counting the number of ways a polymer chain could assemble. The methods used to develop and check this algorithm led to an analytic solution to the problem. This solution is used in a probability distribution function which characterizes the morphology of the polymer.

Ream, Robert↗
NASA NTRS1994

Composite Solid Electrolyte For Lithium Cells

Composite solid electrolyte material consists of very small particles, each coated with thin layer of Lil, bonded together with polymer electrolyte or other organic binder. Material offers significant advantages over other solid electrolytes in lithium cells and batteries. Features include high ionic conductivity and strength. Composite solid electrolyte expected to exhibit flexibility of polymeric electrolytes. Polymer in composite solid electrolyte serves two purposes: used as binder alone, conduction taking place only in AI2O3 particles coated with solid Lil; or used as both binder and polymeric electrolyte, providing ionic conductivity between solid particles that it binds together.

Peled, Emmanuel↗
DOE OSTI2023

Polycarbonate‐Based Solid‐Polymer Electrolytes for Solid‐State Sodium Batteries

Solid-polymer electrolytes comprised of polypropylene carbonate (PPC) and varied sodium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (NaFSI) salt concentrations are investigated for implementation as a conductive solid polymer electrolyte into solid-state cathode composites utilizing a sodium-layered oxide active material. The ionic conductivity generally increases with NaFSI salt content, reaching ≈1 mS cm −1 at 80 °C at the highest salt concentration (PPC:NaFSI = 0.5:1). Through an all-in-one slurry casting method, Na 2/3 Ni 1/3 Mn 2/3 O 2 cathode composites are fabricated in which the dispersed PPC electrolyte acts as the primary binder. Enabled by a bilayer polymer electrolyte system, cycling performance with the PPC cathode electrolyte is optimized with respect to salt concentration and anode material. The best cyclability is achieved with a moderate salt concentration electrolyte (PPC:NaFSI = 5:1), showcasing an initial capacity of 83 mA h g −1 with a remarkable 80% capacity retention after 150 cycles at C/5 rate and 60 °C. The superior performance of the lower salt concentration electrolyte is attributed to better electrochemical stability, as confirmed by linear sweep voltammetry and online electrochemical mass spectrometry measurements. In conclusion, these results underscore the potential of carbonate-based polymer electrolytes and the importance of balancing electrolyte conductivity and stability in cell design.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗