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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 595 records · Page 33
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Development of a portable high-T c spherical neutron polarimetry device at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Spherical neutron polarimetry is a powerful polarized neutron scattering technique used to determine complex magnetic structures which are only partly accessible by other methods. This technique measures the full neutron polarization change upon scattering from a sample by fully decoupling the incoming and outgoing neutron polarization with a zero-field chamber placed at the sample position. Recent advancements and testing are presented for a new spherical neutron polarimetry device utilizing high-T c superconducting YBCO films, PHiTPAD, at the High Flux Isotope Reactor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Furthermore, we introduce a conceptual design that utilizes wavelength-independent adiabatic transitions to adapt spherical neutron polarimetry for use with pulsed neutron sources, thereby expanding its potential applications in neutron scattering research.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2026

Automation of Laser Plasma Focused Ion Beam Microscopy for Next-Gen Energy Materials

Automation can revolutionize the use of ultrafast laser ablation and plasma-focused ion beam (PFIB) techniques for high-throughput, reproducible cross-sectioning and various sample preparation in materials characterization. As these methods become essential for analyzing complex energy materials and next-generation devices, efficient, standardized workflows are needed to minimize variability and enhance precision. This work highlights our advancements in developing automated processes for sample preparation that integrates machine learning, workflow optimization, and large-scale data acquisition to improve efficiency and scalability in applications such as electrolyzers, photovoltaic cells, and microelectronics. To streamline cross-sectioning and lamella fabrication, we have implemented fully automated workflows that standardize laser ablation and PFIB milling sequences. These workflows incorporate pre-programmed protocols for material removal, alignment, and thinning, reducing user intervention and ensuring consistency across different sample types. Machine learning algorithms further enhance automation by predicting optimal milling strategies and adapting parameters based on material properties and sectioning requirements. This approach significantly improves throughput while maintaining the structural integrity of prepared samples for high-resolution imaging and analysis, including transmission electron microscopy. Beyond sample preparation, our automation platform enables the acquisition of large, high-resolution datasets through serial sectioning, image alignment, and 3D reconstruction. These automated routines facilitate multi-scale characterization, capturing structural and compositional details from the nanoscale to the device level. By reducing variability and increasing efficiency, our automated approach enhances defect analysis, failure diagnostics, and process optimization, accelerating advancements in materials research and device engineering.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2008

Icy Soil Acquisition Device for the 2007 Phoenix Mars Lander

The Icy Soil Acquisition Device is a first of its kind mechanism that is designed to acquire ice-bearing soil from the surface of the Martian polar region and transfer the samples to analytical instruments, playing a critical role in the potential discovery of existing water on Mars. The device incorporates a number of novel features that further the state of the art in spacecraft design for harsh environments, sample acquisition and handling, and high-speed low torque mechanism design.

Chu, Philip↗
NASA NTRS2009

New Measurements of the Particle Size Distribution of Apollo 11 Lunar Soil 10084

We have initiated a major new program to determine the grain size distribution of nearly all lunar soils collected in the Apollo program. Following the return of Apollo soil and core samples, a number of investigators including our own group performed grain size distribution studies and published the results [1-11]. Nearly all of these studies were done by sieving the samples, usually with a working fluid such as Freon(TradeMark) or water. We have measured the particle size distribution of lunar soil 10084,2005 in water, using a Microtrac(TradeMark) laser diffraction instrument. Details of our own sieving technique and protocol (also used in [11]). are given in [4]. While sieving usually produces accurate and reproducible results, it has disadvantages. It is very labor intensive and requires hours to days to perform properly. Even using automated sieve shaking devices, four or five days may be needed to sieve each sample, although multiple sieve stacks increases productivity. Second, sieving is subject to loss of grains through handling and weighing operations, and these losses are concentrated in the finest grain sizes. Loss from handling becomes a more acute problem when smaller amounts of material are used. While we were able to quantitatively sieve into 6 or 8 size fractions using starting soil masses as low as 50mg, attrition and handling problems limit the practicality of sieving smaller amounts. Third, sieving below 10 or 20microns is not practical because of the problems of grain loss, and smaller grains sticking to coarser grains. Sieving is completely impractical below about 5- 10microns. Consequently, sieving gives no information on the size distribution below approx.10 microns which includes the important submicrometer and nanoparticle size ranges. Finally, sieving creates a limited number of size bins and may therefore miss fine structure of the distribution which would be revealed by other methods that produce many smaller size bins.

McKay, D.S.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Quantum mechanical model of crossing and anti-crossing points in 3D full-band Monte Carlo simulations

This work presents a 3D quantum mechanics based model to address the physics at band structure crossing/anti-crossing points in full band Monte Carlo (FBMC) simulations. The model solves the Krieger and Iafrate (KI) equations in real time using pre-computed coefficients at k-points spatially sampled within the first Brillouin zone. Solving the KI equations in real time makes this model applicable for all electric fields, which enables its use in FBMC device simulations. In this work, a two-level refinement scheme is used to aggressively sample regions in proximity to band crossings for accurate solutions to the KI equations and coarsely sample everywhere else to limit the number of k-points used. The presented sampling method is demonstrated on the band structure of silicon but is effective for the band structure of any semiconductor material. Next, the adaptation of the fully quantum KI model into the semi-classical FBMC method is discussed. Finally, FBMC simulations of hole transport in 4H silicon carbide with and without the KI model are performed. Results along different crystallographic directions for a wide range of electric fields are compared to previously published simulation and experimental values.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2025

Electronic Melting of Silicon in Nanostructures using X-ray Forbidden Bragg Reflections

Abstract We carried out a short beamtime at the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory x-ray Free Electron Laser to perform a pump-probe (PP) laser excitation diffraction experiment on the silicon (222) forbidden Bragg peak. To limit the x-ray penetration, we used a “device layer” silicon film wafer bonded to a silicon substrate. The sample, specially fabricated by MEMC Electronic Materials, had a Si(100) substrate bonded to a 170 nm Si(100) film rotated at 45° for crystallographic isolation. A second sample was reactive-ion-etched down to 52 nm thickness. In the silicon lattice, the covalent bonds are seen exclusively at the 222 reflection. Upon laser excitation, these electrons are expected to be excited to the valence band on femtosecond electronic time scales. The Si(222) reflection is therefore expected to be extinguished on this fast time scale, while the electron–phonon coupled acoustic response is determined by the lattice dynamics. The latter is determined by the speed of sound over the device thickness, which is in the mid-picosecond range.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1974

SEM evaluation of metallization on semiconductors

A test method for the evaluation of metallization on semiconductors is presented and discussed. The method has been prepared in MIL-STD format for submittal as a proposed addition to MIL-STD-883. It is applicable to discrete devices and to integrated circuits and specifically addresses batch-process oriented defects. Quantitative accept/reject criteria are given for contact windows, other oxide steps, and general interconnecting metallization. Figures are provided that illustrate typical types of defects. Apparatus specifications, sampling plans, and specimen preparation and examination requirements are described. Procedures for glassivated devices and for multi-metal interconnection systems are included.

Fresh, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS2024

Application of Long-Path Gas Cell Assisted Infrared Spectroscopy for Detection of Lunar Volatiles and Advanced Curation Efforts

The motivation behind analyzing gaseous samples from the Permanently Shadowed Regions (PSRs) on the lunar surface is built upon the volatiles observed during the LCROSS mission. Advanced curation techniques under cold conditions are essential to the critical scientific analysis of these returned samples. The detection of various volatiles in returned samples by gas-phase infrared (IR) spectroscopy is known to be a powerful tool to understand the resources present in planetary bodies and Astro-materials. The identification and quantification of volatile compounds in returned planetary samples and regolith simulants by advanced and custom-built analytical devices are areas of primary research interest in our group and the Planetary Exploration & Astromaterials Research Laboratory (PEARL) facility. In this context, we discuss recent advancements and experimental results for quick analysis of the major volatiles detected by the LCROSS (water, CO 2 , CH 3 OH, and NH 3 ) by a long-path gas cell/FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) spectrometer system. The applicability of this system is demonstrated by qualitative analysis of a series of volatiles measured individually. In addition, the linear dependence of absorption intensity on headspace sample volumes was checked by measuring gas-phase IR absorption spectra of increasing volumes of pure CO 2 gas aliquots. Finally, the instrument performance was evaluated by measuring the relative concentration of NH 3 (g) in methanol solution.

Curation↗
NASA NTRS2008

NASA Tech Briefs, June 2008

Topics covered include: Charge-Control Unit for Testing Lithium-Ion Cells; Measuring Positions of Objects Using Two or More Cameras; Lidar System for Airborne Measurement of Clouds and Aerosols; Radiation-Insensitive Inverse Majority Gates; Reduced-Order Kalman Filtering for Processing Relative Measurements; Spaceborne Processor Array; Instrumentation System Diagnoses a Thermocouple; Chromatic Modulator for a High-Resolution CCD or APS; Commercial Product Activation Using RFID; Cup Cylindrical Waveguide Antenna; Aerobraking Maneuver (ABM) Report Generator; ABM Drag_Pass Report Generator; Transformation of OODT CAS to Perform Larger Tasks; Visualization Component of Vehicle Health Decision Support System; Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Uplink Analysis Tool; Problem Reporting System; G-Guidance Interface Design for Small Body Mission Simulation; DSN Scheduling Engine; Replacement Sequence of Events Generator; Force-Control Algorithm for Surface Sampling; Tool for Merging Proposals Into DSN Schedules; Micromachined Slits for Imaging Spectrometers; Fabricating Nanodots Using Lift-Off of a Nanopore Template; Making Complex Electrically Conductive Patterns on Cloth; Special Polymer/Carbon Composite Films for Detecting SO2; Nickel-Based Superalloy Resists Embrittlement by Hydrogen; Chemical Passivation of Li+-Conducting Solid Electrolytes; Organic/Inorganic Polymeric Composites for Heat-Transfer Reduction; Composite Cathodes for Dual-Rate Li-Ion Batteries; Improved Descent-Rate Limiting Mechanism; Alignment-Insensitive Lower-Cost Telescope Architecture; Micro-Resistojet for Small Satellites; Using Piezoelectric Devices to Transmit Power through Walls; Miniature Latching Valve; Apparatus for Sampling Surface Contamination; Novel Species of Non-Spore-Forming Bacteria; Chamber for Aerosol Deposition of Bioparticles; Hyperspectral Sun Photometer for Atmospheric Characterization and Vicarious Calibrations; Dynamic Stability and Gravitational Balancing of Multiple Extended Bodies; Simulation of Stochastic Processes by Coupled ODE-PDE; Cluster Inter-Spacecraft Communications; Genetic Algorithm Optimizes Q-LAW Control Parameters; Low-Impact Mating System for Docking Spacecraft; Non-Destructive Evaluation of Materials via Ultraviolet Spectroscopy; Gold-on-Polymer-Based Sensing Films for Detection of Organic and Inorganic Analytes in the Air; and Quantum-Inspired Maximizer.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1980

Back surface reflectors for solar cells

Sample solar cells were fabricated to study the effects of various back surface reflectors on the device performance. They are typical 50 micrometers thick, space quality, silicon solar cells except for variations of the back contact configuration. The back surfaces of the sample cells are polished to a mirror like finish, and have either conventional full contacts or grid finger contacts. Measurements and evaluation of various metallic back surface reflectors, as well as cells with total internal reflection, are presented. Results indicate that back surface reflectors formed using a grid finger back contact are more effective reflectors than cells with full back metallization and that Au, Ag, or Cu are better back surface reflector metals than Al.

Chai, A. T.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Design of Electrostatic Aberration Correctors for Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy

Abstract In a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), producing a high-resolution image generally requires an electron beam focused to the smallest point possible. However, the magnetic lenses used to focus the beam are unavoidably imperfect, introducing aberrations that limit resolution. Modern STEMs overcome this by using hardware aberration correctors comprised of many multipole elements, but these devices are complex, expensive, and can be difficult to tune. We demonstrate a design for an electrostatic phase plate that can act as an aberration corrector. The corrector is comprised of annular segments, each of which is an independent two-terminal device that can apply a constant or ramped phase shift to a portion of the electron beam. We show the improvement in image resolution using an electrostatic corrector. Engineering criteria impose that much of the beam within the probe-forming aperture be blocked by support bars, leading to large probe tails for the corrected probe that sample the specimen beyond the central lobe. We also show how this device can be used to create other STEM beam profiles such as vortex beams and probes with a high degree of phase diversity, which improve information transfer in ptychographic reconstructions.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2023

Stream lamination and rapid mixing in a microfluidic jet for X-ray spectroscopy studies

Microfluidic mixers offer new possibilities for the study of fast reaction kinetics down to the microsecond time scale, and methods such as soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy are powerful analysis techniques. These systems impose challenging constraints on mixing time scales, sample volume, detection region size and component materials. The current work presents a novel micromixer and jet device which aims to address these limitations. The system uses a so-called ‘theta’ mixer consisting of two sintered and fused glass capillaries. Sample and carrier fluids are injected separately into the inlets of the adjacent capillaries. At the downstream end, the two streams exit two micron-scale adjoining nozzles and form a single free-standing jet. The flow-rate difference between the two streams results in the rapid acceleration and lamination of the sample stream. This creates a small transverse dimension and induces diffusive mixing of the sample and carrier stream solutions within a time scale of 0.9 microseconds. The reaction occurs at or very near a free surface so that reactants and products are more directly accessible to interrogation using soft X-ray. We use a simple diffusion model and quantitative measurements of fluorescence quenching (of fluorescein with potassium iodide) to characterize the mixing dynamics across flow-rate ratios.

Huyke, Diego A. (ORCID:0000000283356613)↗
DOE OSTI2021

Sandia National Laboratories FY21 Progress Report

The Energetic Neutrons campaign led by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) had a successful year testing electronic devices and printed circuit boards (PCBs) under 14 MeV neutron irradiation at OMEGA. During FY21 Sandia’s Neutron Effects Diagnostics (NEDs) and data acquisition systems were upgraded to test novel commercial off-the-shelf and Sandia-fabricated electronic components that support SNL’s National Security mission. The upgrades to the Sandia platform consisted of new cable chains, sample mount fixtures and a new fiber optics platform for testing optoelectronic devices.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Correlated Electrical and Chemical Nanoscale Properties in Potassium-Passivated, Triple-Cation Perovskite Solar Cells

Perovskite semiconductors are an exciting class of materials due to their promising performance outputs in photovoltaic devices. To boost their efficiency further, researchers introduce additives during sample synthesis, such as KI. However, it is not well understood how KI changes the material and, often, leaves precipitants. To fully resolve the role of KI, multiple microscopy techniques are applied and the electrical and chemical behavior of a Reference (untreated) and a KI-treated perovskite are compared. Upon correlation between electrical and chemical nanoimaging techniques, it is discovered that these local properties are linked to the macroscopic voltage enhancement of the KI-treated perovskite. The heterogeneity revealed in both the local electrical and chemical responses indicates that the additive partially migrates to the surface, yet surprisingly does not deteriorate the performance locally, rather, the voltage response homogeneously increases. The research presented within provides a diagnostic methodology, which connects the nanoscale electrical and chemical properties of materials, relevant to other perovskites, including multication and Pb-free alternatives.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Establishing ZIF‐8 as a reference material for hydrogen cryoadsorption: An interlaboratory study

Abstract Hydrogen storage by cryoadsorption on porous materials has the advantages of low material cost, safety, fast kinetics, and high cyclic stability. The further development of this technology requires reliable data on the H 2 uptake of the adsorbents, however, even for activated carbons the values between different laboratories show sometimes large discrepancies. So far no reference material for hydrogen cryoadsorption is available. The metal‐organic framework ZIF‐8 is an ideal material possessing high thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability that reduces degradation during handling and activation. Here, we distributed ZIF‐8 pellets synthesized by extrusion to 9 laboratories equipped with 15 different experimental setups including gravimetric and volumetric analyzers. The gravimetric H 2 uptake of the pellets was measured at 77 K and up to 100 bar showing a high reproducibility between the different laboratories, with a small relative standard deviation of 3–4 % between pressures of 10–100 bar. The effect of operating variables like the amount of sample or analysis temperature was evaluated, remarking the calibration of devices and other correction procedures as the most significant deviation sources. Overall, the reproducible hydrogen cryoadsorption measurements indicate the robustness of the ZIF‐8 pellets, which we want to propose as a reference material.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2023

Sample Preparation Methods for Targeted Single-Cell Proteomics

We compared three cell isolation and two proteomic sample preparation methods for single-cell and near-single-cell analysis. Whole blood was used to quantify hemoglobin (Hb) and glycated-Hb (gly-Hb) in erythrocytes using targeted mass spectrometry and stable isotope-labeled standard peptides. Each method differed in cell isolation and sample preparation as follows: 1) FACS and automated preparation in one-pot for trace samples (autoPOTS); 2) limited dilution via microscopy and a novel rapid one-pot sample preparation method that circumvented the need for the solid-phase extraction, low-volume liquid handling instrumentation and humidified incubation chamber; and 3) CellenONE-based cell isolation and the same one-pot sample preparation method used for limited dilution. Only the CellenONE device routinely isolated single-cells from which Hb was measured to be 540–660 amol per red blood cell (RBC), which was comparable to the calculated SI reference range for mean corpuscular hemoglobin (390–540 amol/RBC). FACSAria sorter and limited dilution could routinely isolate single-digit cell numbers, to reliably quantify CMV-Hb heterogeneity. Finally, we observed that repeated measures, using 5–25 RBCs obtained from N = 10 blood donors, could be used as an alternative and more efficient strategy than single RBC analysis to measure protein heterogeneity, which revealed multimodal distribution, unique for each individual.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Specialized Plant Growth Chamber Designs to Study Complex Rhizosphere Interactions

The rhizosphere is a dynamic ecosystem shaped by complex interactions between plant roots, soil, microbial communities and other micro- and macro-fauna. Although studied for decades, critical gaps exist in the study of plant roots, the rhizosphere microbiome and the soil system surrounding roots, partly due to the challenges associated with measuring and parsing these spatiotemporal interactions in complex heterogeneous systems such as soil. To overcome the challenges associated with in situ study of rhizosphere interactions, specialized plant growth chamber systems have been developed that mimic the natural growth environment. This review discusses the currently available lab-based systems ranging from widely known rhizotrons to other emerging devices designed to allow continuous monitoring and non-destructive sampling of the rhizosphere ecosystems in real-time throughout the developmental stages of a plant. We categorize them based on the major rhizosphere processes it addresses and identify their unique challenges as well as advantages. We find that while some design elements are shared among different systems (e.g., size exclusion membranes), most of the systems are bespoke and speaks to the intricacies and specialization involved in unraveling the details of rhizosphere processes. We also discuss what we describe as the next generation of growth chamber employing the latest technology as well as the current barriers they face. We conclude with a perspective on the current knowledge gaps in the rhizosphere which can be filled by innovative chamber designs.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1981

JSC systems using solid ceramic oxygen electrolyte cells to measure oxygen fugacites in gas-mixing systems

Details are given for the construction and operation of a 101.3 KN/sq meter (1 atmosphere) redox control system. A solid ceramic oxygen electrolyte cell is used to monitor the oxygen fugacity in the furnace. The system consists of a vertical quench gas mixing furnace with heads designed for mounting the electrolyte cell and with facilities for inserting and removing the samples, a simplified version of a gas mixing apparatus, and devices for experiments under controlled rates of change of temperature. A thermogravimetric analysis system employing these techniques of redox control and measurement is also described. The calibration and maintenance of the system are discussed.

Williams, R. J.↗