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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
DOE OSTI2023

K-region tetrasubstituted deep-blue pyrene-based luminogens: Visual detection of trace nitroaniline

In recent years, fluorescence sensors have been widely used in explosive detection due to their portability and high efficiency. Here, in the present work, two K-region tetrasubstituted deep-blue pyrene-based luminogens were designed and synthesized by introducing electron-donating groups. The optical properties were investigated by experimental and density functional theory (DFT) methods. Reasonable luminescence efficiency and electron rich characteristic allowed for the possible detection of nitro-explosives. Both luminogens, especially TFPy, exhibit a sensitive response towards nitroanilines (NA), with a limit of detection (LOD) for p-NA as low as 2.75 × 10 –8 M, which is mainly attributed to the electron-donating substituents on the periphery of the pyrene core and the extended π-conjugated structure. These research results establish a low-cost and simple strategy for the detection of trace nitroaniline.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Handheld Biosensor for COVID-19 Screening

We have made significant progress toward the development of an integrated nucleic acid amplification system for Autonomous Medical Devices Incorporated (AMDIs) Optikus handheld diagnostic device. In this effort, we developed a set of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) primers for SARS-CoV-2 and then demonstrate amplification directly on a surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor. We built associated hardware and developed a C-code to control the amplification process. The goal of this project was to develop a nucleic amplification assay that is compatible with SAW sensors to enable both nucleic and serological testing in a single handheld diagnostic device. Toward this goal, AMDI is collaborating Sandia National Laboratories to develop a rapid, portable diagnostic screening device that utilizes Sandias unique surface acoustic wave biosensor (SAW) for COVID-19 detection. Previously, the SANDIA- AMDI SAW sensor has successfully detected multiple high-profile bacteria viruses, including Ebola, HIV, Sin Nombre, and Anthrax. Over the last two years, AMDI and SANDIA have significantly improved the sensitivity and detection capability of the SAW biosensor and have also developed a modular hand-held, portable platform called the Optikus, which uses CD microfluidics and handheld instrumentation to automate all sample preparation, reagent introduction, sample delivery, and measurement for a number of different assay targets. We propose to use this platform for the development of a rapid (%3C30 minutes), point-of-care diagnostic test for detection of COVID-19 from nasal swab samples.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2023

AmeriFlux FLUXNET-1F CA-Ca2 British Columbia - Clearcut Douglas-fir stand (harvested winter 1999/2000)

This is the AmeriFlux Management Project (AMP) created FLUXNET-1F version of the carbon flux data for the site CA-Ca2 British Columbia - Clearcut Douglas-fir stand (harvested winter 1999/2000). This is the FLUXNET version of the carbon flux data for the site CA-Ca2 British Columbia - Clearcut Douglas-fir stand (harvested winter 1999/2000) produced by applying the standard ONEFlux (1F) software. Site Description - Tower Type: 10" triangular tower; Latitude/Longitude 49.87048N -125.29087W (GPS survey, 2003. Coordinates updated/corrected May, 2006); Elevation approx. 180m; Mean Air Temp. (for the growing season) 8.3 C*; Mean Annual Precipitation 1461 mm *; Date Operations Began August 2000; Frequency of EC Measurements 7.7 Hz (2000 ­ 2001), 20 Hz (2002); Frequency of Other Met. Sensors 4 sec, year round; Soil Respiration Measurements Periodically during growing season using portable system in 2002; * 1998-2001 averages from the 1948 Douglas-fir stand meteorological tower

Black, T. Andrew↗
DOE OSTI2026

AmeriFlux FLUXNET-1F CA-Ca3 British Columbia - Pole sapling Douglas-fir stand

This is the AmeriFlux Management Project (AMP) created FLUXNET-1F version of the carbon flux data for the site CA-Ca3 British Columbia - Pole sapling Douglas-fir stand. This is the FLUXNET version of the carbon flux data for the site CA-Ca3 British Columbia - Pole sapling Douglas-fir stand produced by applying the standard ONEFlux (1F) software. Site Description - Site: 1988 Harvested Douglas Fir (Pole-sapling); Tower Type 10" triangular tower; Latitude/Longitude 49.53462N -124.90044W (GPS survey, 2003. Coordinates updated/corrected May, 2006); Elevation approx. 170 m; Mean Air Temp. (for the growing season) 9.7 C *; Mean Annual Precipitation 1179 mm *; Date Operations Began: September 2001; Frequency of EC Measurements 20 Hz; Frequency of Other Met. Sensors 4 sec, year round; Soil Respiration Measurements Periodically during growing season using portable system in 2002; * 30-yr climate normals from the Comox Airport

Black, T. Andrew [University of British Columbia, ↗
DOE OSTI2021

AI-Enabled Robotic NDE for Structural Damage Assessment and Repair

The aim of this paper is to develop the concept and a prototype of an intelligent mobile robotic platform that is integrated with nondestructive evaluation (NDE) capabilities for autonomous live inspection and repair. In many industrial environments, such as the application of power plant boiler inspection, human inspectors often have to perform hazardous and challenging tasks. There is a significant chance of injury, considering the confined spaces and limited visibility of the inspection environment and hazards such as pressurization and improper water levels. In order to provide a solution to eliminate these dangers, the concept of a new robotic system was developed and prototyped that is capable of autonomously sweeping the region to be inspected. The robot design contains systematic integration of components from robotics, NDE, and artificial intelligence (AI). A magnetic track system is used to navigate over the vertical steel structures required for examination. While moving across the inspection area, the robot uses an NDE sensor to acquire data for inspection and repair. This paper presents a design of a portable NDE scanning system based on eddy current array probes, which can be customized and installed on various mobile robot platforms. Machine learning methods are applied for semantic segmentation that will simultaneously localize and recognize defects without the need of human intervention. Experiments were conducted that show the NDE and repair capabilities of the system. Improvements in human safety and structural damage prevention, as well as lowering the overall costs of maintenance, are possible through the implementation of this robotic NDE system.

Materials Science↗
DOE OSTI2025

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) Sensing for Environmental and Subsurface Monitoring

Groundwater monitoring is essential to timely and accurately reflect the current situations and the trends of water quality. However, the long-term stability and survival of any potential in-situ monitoring method is threatened by the harsh conditions and the groundwater monitoring in downhole environments poses numerous challenges to the sensor community. Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been demonstrated as a promising technology for chemical monitoring in high-temperature high-pressure (HTHP) environments and hard to reach places. The technique demonstrates several advantages, such as rapid, real-time, in-situ, and simultaneous detection of multiple elements with simple or no sample preparation. This chapter includes a brief review of the field-portable LIBS systems, and development of a compact, robust, and simple LIBS instrument for downhole HTHP water quality monitoring. The fieldable prototype sensor is tested in an onsite monitoring well where trace elements’ concentrations are tracked over an extended period. The testing has verified that the fiber coupled design performs as desired. The system shows good calibration linearity for tested elements and collection times, and Limits of Detection (LODs) that are comparable to those of tabletop LIBS instruments. In addition to groundwater quality monitoring, the fabricated LIBS-based sensor could have widespread sub-surface detection applications.

Jain, Jinesh [NETL Site Support Contractor, Nation↗
DOE OSTI2020

Trace-Level, Multi-Gas Detection for Food Quality Assessment Based on Decorated Silicon Transistor Arrays

Multiplexed gas detection at room temperature is critical for practical applications, such as for tracking the complex chemical environments associated with food decomposition and spoilage. Here, an integrated array of multiple silicon-based, chemical-sensitive field effect transistors (CSFETs) is presented to realize selective, sensitive, and simultaneous measurement of gases typically associated with food spoilage. CSFETs decorated with sensing materials based on ruthenium, silver, and silicon oxide are used to obtain stable room-temperature responses to ammonia (NH 3 ), hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), and humidity, respectively. For example, one multi-CSFET sensor signal changes from its baseline by 13.34 in response to 1 ppm of NH 3 , 724.45 under 1 ppm H 2 S, and 23.46 under 80% relative humidity, with sensitive detection down to 10 ppb of NH 3 and H 2 S. To demonstrate this sensor for practical applications, the CSFET sensor array is combined with a custom-printed circuit board into a compact, fully integrated, and portable system to conduct real-time monitoring of gases generated by decomposing food. By using existing silicon-based manufacturing methodologies, this room-temperature gas sensing array can be fabricated reproducibly and at low cost, making it an attractive platform for ambient gas measurement needed in food safety applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Correlation of Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) force myography sensor output with elbow joint torque

Accurate assessment of skeletal muscle forces and net joint torque is essential for preventing fatigue-related injuries, optimizing physical training, and monitoring disease progression in neuromuscular conditions. However, existing joint torque evaluation techniques are hindered by limited portability and high operational costs, confining their use to controlled laboratory or clinical settings. Despite substantial advances in wearable joint torque estimation systems, ongoing challenges such as power constraints, bulky wired setups, and susceptibility to environmental or motion artifacts underscore the urgent need for truly batteryless, wireless solutions deployable in real-world settings. This paper proposes a novel surface acoustic wave (SAW)-based force myography (FMG) system for noninvasive measurement of joint torque, validated against a gold-standard electromechanical dynamometer. The approach uses a single SAW sensor embedded in an armband to detect volumetric biceps brachii changes, with a second-order polynomial mapping sensor output and elbow angle to torque. Seven participants were tested in both isometric (15°–90°) and isokinetic (10°/s and 20°/s) supinated elbow flexion tasks. Under isometric conditions, subject-specific calibration achieved a normalized root-mean-square error (NRMSE) of 13.6% ± 6.0% and R 2 = 0.834 ± 0.180, while a group-level model yielded 14.4% ± 6.8% and 0.808 ± 0.208, respectively. For isokinetic trials, the group model produced an NRMSE of 24.1% ± 6.6% at 10°/s and 24.9% ± 08.9% at 20°/s, highlighting the feasibility of using a single-sensor SAW-FMG setup across different speeds. Because SAW devices support wireless, battery-free operation, the proposed system offers a pathway to portable, real-time monitoring for sports medicine, rehabilitation, and clinical diagnostics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Portable and Cost-Effective Device for Reliable Detection of Counterfeit and Non-compliant Refrigerants in Diverse Applications

Counterfeit refrigerants pose significant challenges to safety, system reliability, and operational effectiveness due to their harmful contaminants or incompatible chemical compositions. Utilizing these noncompliant products can lead to reduced efficiency, equipment failures, and expensive repairs. Additionally, heightened demand for alternative refrigerants during the industry's transition has created supply gaps, enabling counterfeit products to proliferate. Accurate detection and analysis tools are therefore essential to verify refrigerant authenticity and ensure system integrity in diverse applications. This paper presents the development of a portable device designed for reliable identification and detailed analysis of refrigerant composition. By integrating precision gas sampling, controlled pressure regulation, and automated sensor technology, the device not only detects deviations from standard refrigerant properties but also provides a comprehensive composition breakdown. Pre-calibrated sensors measure the refrigerant gas to identify specific concentrations and contaminants, with an intuitive LED-based indicator system ensuring quick interpretation of results. The user-friendly interface enables operators to select refrigerant types for targeted testing, further enhancing accuracy and usability for field technicians. Comprehensive testing was conducted on mildly flammable A2L refrigerants, showcasing the device’s robustness and adaptability in analyzing composition and detecting discrepancies. The device demonstrated consistent accuracy across a range of refrigerant samples, affirming its reliability in diverse operational environments. Its design minimizes contamination risks during sampling and provides detailed composition results within 90 seconds, ensuring efficient and precise analysis. With a projected price point under $150, the proposed solution delivers affordability alongside its lightweight portability and straightforward operation. Unlike complex and costly alternatives, such as gas chromatography systems, this device provides an accessible option for technicians, customs personnel, and industry operators in need of quick and effective refrigerant verification. Compatible with both current formulations and emerging refrigerant technologies, the device addresses critical counterfeit detection needs across a range of applications. By delivering accurate composition analysis and counterfeit identification, this innovation enhances system performance, safety, and operational reliability in crucial industries.

Cheekatamarla, Praveen [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000248827↗
DOE OSTI2025

Cryogenic optical beam steering for superconducting device calibration

We have developed a calibration system based on a micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) mirror that is capable of delivering an optical beam over a wavelength range of 180 -- 2000 nm (0.62 -- 6.89 eV) in a sub-Kelvin environment. This portable, integrated system can steer the beam over a $\sim$3 cm $\times$ 3 cm area on the surface of any sensor with a precision of $\sim$100 $μ$m, enabling characterization of device response as a function of position. This fills a critical need in the landscape of calibration tools for sub-Kelvin devices, including those used for dark matter detection and quantum computing. These communities have a shared goal of understanding the impact of ionizing radiation on device performance, which can be pursued with our system. This paper describes the design of the first-generation calibration system and the results from successfully testing its performance at room temperature and 20 mK.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

AmeriFlux FLUXNET-1F CA-Ca1 British Columbia - 1949 Douglas-fir stand

This is the AmeriFlux Management Project (AMP) created FLUXNET-1F version of the carbon flux data for the site CA-Ca1 British Columbia - 1949 Douglas-fir stand. This is the FLUXNET version of the carbon flux data for the site CA-Ca1 British Columbia - 1949 Douglas-fir stand produced by applying the standard ONEFlux (1F) software. Site Description - 1949 Douglas-fir stand; Tower Type 20" triangular tower; Latitude/Longitude 49.86725N 125.33360W (GPS survey, 2003. Coordinates updated/corrected May, 2006); Elevation 320 m; North-east facing terrain, 5-10 deg slope; Mean Air Temp. 8.3 °C* ; Mean Annual Precipitation 1461 mm * ; Date Operations Began June 1997 ; Frequency of EC Measurements 20.83 Hz; Frequency of Other Met. Sensors 1 - 4 sec, year round ; Soil Respiration Measurements 30 min., automated soil respiration system in 2000, periodically during growing season using portable system in 2002 ; * 1998-2001 averages from the 1948 Douglas-fir stand meteorological tower

Black, T. Andrew↗
DOE OSTI2020

INTEGRATION OF FLEX EQUIPMENT AND OPERATOR ACTIONS IN PLANT FORCE-ON-FORCE MODELS WITH DYNAMIC RISK ASSESSMENT

The overall operation and maintenance cost to protect nuclear power plants accounts for approximately 7% of the total cost of power generation, with labor accounting for half of this cost. In the current research, from interaction with utilities and other stakeholders, it was determined that physical security forces account for nearly 20% of the entire workforce at several nuclear power plants. Labor costs continue to rise in the U.S., so any measures to reduce the cost of operating a nuclear power plant will need to include a reduction in labor. The physical security pathway within the DOE’s Light Water Reactor Sustainability program aims to lower the cost of physical security through directed research into modeling and simulation, application of advanced sensors or deployment of advanced weapons. This report presents a modeling and simulation framework for integrating Diverse and Flexible Mitigation Capability (FLEX) portable equipment performance with Force on Force models of a plant’s physical security posture. The generic framework is described in detail, followed by a case study of modeling an adversarial attack aimed at causing a radiological release by sabotaging the plant’s power supply and its ultimate heat sink capabilities at a hypothetical nuclear power plant. Two different FLEX deployment strategies, series and parallel, are modeled with distinct timelines. The results of the adversarial attack modeled in a commercial Force on Force tool are integrated with the FLEX deployment model in INL’s dynamic modeling tool EMRALD. Monte Carlo simulation is used to model the distribution of the timeline in FLEX deployment strategies. The results demonstrate that, even in the extreme case of a successful adversarial attack, deployment of FLEX equipment can result in a significantly high likelihood of preventing radiological release. The modeling and simulation framework integrating FLEX equipment with Force on Force models enables the nuclear power plants to credit FLEX portable equipment in the plant security posture, resulting in an efficient and optimized physical security.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2023

Final Report DE-SC0020773

The DOE/NNSA sought development of innovative portable neutron/x-ray cameras for imaging and, when coupled with a portable source, also for radiography. This project focused on developing such a device that promises to have excellent resolution, while also providing neutron/gamma separation. We developed an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) to be employed in conjunction with existing sensor technologies and modern assembly techniques. The concepts developed were a combination of new novel techniques and an innovative implementation of existing methods boosted by technological advances in ASIC performance.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗
DOE OSTI2022

ORC Tech Phase 2 Deliverable Report [Slides]

The New Mexico Small Business Assistance Program (NMSBA) has once again paired with Optical Radio Communications Technology (ORC Tech). A New Mexico startup Limited Liability Company (LLC), with Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) Engineers at the Sensors and Textiles Innovatively Tailored for Complex, High-Efficiency Detection (STITCHED) laboratory, to aid in the development of an ultra-passive, portable, deployable wireless signal booster technology.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2023

Single-pixel reconstructive mid-infrared micro-spectrometer

Miniaturized spectrometers in the mid-infrared (MIR) are critical in developing next-generation portable electronics for advanced sensing and analysis. The bulky gratings or detector/filter arrays in conventional micro-spectrometers set a physical limitation to their miniaturization. In this work, we demonstrate a single-pixel MIR micro-spectrometer that reconstructs the sample transmission spectrum by a spectrally dispersed light source instead of spatially grated light beams. The spectrally tunable MIR light source is realized based on the thermal emissivity engineered via the metal-insulator phase transition of vanadium dioxide (VO 2 ). We validate the performance by showing that the transmission spectrum of a magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) sample can be computationally reconstructed from sensor responses at varied light source temperatures. With potentially minimum footprint due to the array-free design, our work opens the possibility where compact MIR spectrometers are integrated into portable electronic systems for versatile applications.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2023

TRACER Lightning Mapping Array Field Campaign Report

Our observational contribution to the U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility’s Tracking Aerosol Convection Interactions Experiment (TRACER) was the deployment of additional Lightning Mapping Array sensors to provide enhanced capability to the Houston Lightning Mapping Array (HLMA) during the TRACER intensive operational period. To that end, the Texas Tech University personnel (Professor Bruning and Dr. Brunner, and graduate students Jessica Souza, David Singewald, Stephanie Weiss, and Matthew Miller) deployed two portable LMA antennae at locations G and B shown in the map below. The map also shows the predicted lightning flash detection efficiency in black contours, as well as color-shaded very-high-frequency (VHF) source detection efficiency, which roughly corresponds to the sensitivity to lightning channel detail. Feeds from these sensors were integrated in the HLMA processing in real-time and in post-processing, partially leveraging National Science Foundation support through the TRACER campaign that supported the core HLMA, operated by Timothy Logan.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Using Low-Cost Measurement Systems to Investigate Air Quality: A Case Study in Palapye, Botswana

Exposure to particulate air pollution is a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. In developing countries, the combustion of solid fuels is widely used as a source of energy, and this process can produce exposure to harmful levels of particulate matter with diameters smaller than 2.5 microns (PM 2.5 ). However, as countries develop, solid fuel may be replaced by centralized coal combustion, and vehicles burning diesel and gasoline may become common, changing the concentration and composition of PM 2.5 , which ultimately changes the population health effects. Therefore, there is a continuous need for in-situ monitoring of air pollution in developing nations, both to estimate human exposure and to monitor changes in air quality. In this study, we present measurements from a 5-week field experiment in Palapye, Botswana. We used a low-cost, highly portable instrument package to measure surface-based aerosol optical depth (AOD), real-time surface PM 2.5 concentrations using a third-party optical sensor, and time-integrated PM 2.5 concentration and composition by collecting PM 2.5 onto Teflon filters. Furthermore, we employed other low-cost measurements of real-time black carbon and time-integrated ammonia to help interpret the observed PM 2.5 composition and concentration information during the field experiment. We found that the average PM 2.5 concentration (9.5 μg∙m –3 ) was below the World Health Organization (WHO) annual limit, and this concentration closely agrees with estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) report estimates for this region. Sulfate aerosol and carbonaceous aerosol, likely from coal combustion and biomass burning, respectively, were the main contributors to PM 2.5 by mass (33% and 27% of total PM 2.5 mass, respectively). While these observed concentrations were on average below WHO guidelines, we found that the measurement site experienced higher concentrations of aerosol during first half our measurement period (14.5 μg∙m –3 ), which is classified as "moderately unhealthy" according to the WHO standard.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Neural interface methods and apparatus to provide artificial sensory capabilities to a subject

Embodiments of neural interfaces according to the present invention comprise sensor modules for sensing environmental attributes beyond the natural sensory capability of a subject, and communicating the attributes wirelessly to an external (ex-vivo) portable module attached to the subject. The ex-vivo module encodes and communicates the attributes via a transcutaneous inductively coupled link to an internal (in-vivo) module implanted within the subject. The in-vivo module converts the attribute information into electrical neural stimuli that are delivered to a peripheral nerve bundle within the subject, via an implanted electrode. Methods and apparatus according to the invention incorporate implantable batteries to power the in-vivo module allowing for transcutaneous bidirectional communication of low voltage (e.g. on the order of 5 volts) encoded signals as stimuli commands and neural responses, in a robust, low-error rate, communication channel with minimal effects to the subjects' skin.

Buerger, Stephen P.↗