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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 613 records · Page 34
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Binding of saturated and unsaturated C 6 -hydrocarbons to the electrophilic anion [B 12 Br 11 ] – : a systematic mechanistic study

The highly reactive gaseous ion [B 12 Br 11 ] – is a metal-free closed-shell anion which spontaneously forms covalent bonds with hydrocarbon molecules, including alkanes. Herein, we systematically investigate the reaction mechanism for binding of [B 12 Br 11 ] – to the five hexane isomers yielding [B 12 Br 11 (C 6 H 14 )] – , as well as to cyclohexane and several hexene isomers (yielding [B 12 Br 11 (C 6 H 12 )] – ) using collision-induced dissociation (CID), infrared photodissociation spectroscopy (IRPD) and computational methods. CID of the different [B 12 Br 11 (C 6 H 14 )] – ions results in distinct fragmentation patterns dependent on the structure of the hexane isomer. Further, the observed fragmentation reactions provide insights into the addition mechanism of [B 12 Br 11 ] – to hexane. Based on the observed CID patterns, we identified that either B–C bond formation through heterolytic C–C or C–H bond cleavages or B–H bond formation through heterolytic C–H cleavage occur dependent on the structure of the hexane isomer. Meanwhile, we observe identical CID spectra of adducts originating from isomers of C 6 H 12 . Spectroscopic investigations of adducts of 1-hexene and cyclohexane indicate the same product structure with an open C 6 chain. Computational investigations evidenced that low lying transition states are present, which enable a ring opening reaction of cyclohexane when binding to [B 12 Br 11 ] – .

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Simulation of the photodetachment spectra of the nitrate anion (NO 3 ₋ ) in the B ~ 2 E' energy range and non-adiabatic electronic population dynamics of NO 3

The photodetachment spectrum of the nitrate anion (NO 3 ₋ ) in the energy range of the NO 3 second excited state is simulated from first principles using quantum wave packet dynamics. The prediction at 10 K and 435 K relies on the use of an accurate full-dimensional fully coupled five state diabatic potential model utilizing an artificial neural network. The ability of this model to reproduce experimental spectra was demonstrated recently for the lower energy range. Analysis of the spectra indicates a weaker Jahn–Teller coupling compared to the first excited state. The detailed non-adiabatic dynamics is studied by computing the population dynamics. An ultra-fast non-statistical radiationless decay is found only among the Jahn–Teller components, which is followed by a slow statistical non-radiative decay among the different state manifolds. The latter is reproduced perfectly by a simple first order kinetics model. The dynamics in the second excited state is not affected by the presence of a conical intersection with the first excited state manifold.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Anion-exchange membranes with internal microchannels for water control in CO 2 electrolysis

Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO 2 R) poses substantial promise to convert abundant feedstocks (water and CO 2 ) to value-added chemicals and fuels using solely renewable energy. However, recent membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) devices that have been demonstrated to achieve high rates of CO 2 R are limited by water management within the cell, due to both consumption of water by the CO 2 R reaction and electro-osmotic fluxes that transport water from the cathode to the anode. Additionally, crossover of potassium (K + ) ions poses concern at high current densities where saturation and precipitation of the salt ions can degrade cell performance. Herein, a device architecture incorporating an anion-exchange membrane (AEM) with internal water channels to mitigate MEA dehydration is proposed and demonstrated. A macroscale, two-dimensional continuum model is used to assess water fluxes and local water content within the modified MEA, as well as to determine the optimal channel geometry and composition. The modified AEMs are then fabricated and tested experimentally, demonstrating that the internal channels can both reduce K + cation crossover as well as improve AEM conductivity and therefore overall cell performance. This work demonstrates the promise of these materials, and operando water-management strategies in general, in handling some of the major hurdles in the development of MEA devices for CO 2 R.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Highly soluble copper(ι) iodide-based hybrid luminescent semiconductors containing molecular and one-dimensional coordinated anionic inorganic motifs

Copper(I) iodide-based inorganic–organic hybrid semiconductors are considered promising materials for various optoelectronic applications. Here, using imidazolium bridged benzotriazoles as multidentate ligands, we designed and synthesized a series of all-in-one (AIO)-type CuI hybrid materials that hold both ionic and coordinate bonds at the interface of organic and inorganic modules. Their structures range from 0D clusters to 2D extended networks built on various molecular (0D) and chain-like (1D) anionic inorganic motifs that are interconnected through cationic ligands via multiple Cu–N bonds. Benefiting from their unique bonding nature, these compounds exhibit high stability towards heat and moisture and can be well dissolved in polar aprotic solvents. They emit low-energy light spanning from yellow to red color (550–625 nm). Finally, the electronic structure, emission mechanism, and effect of different coordination modes on their photophysical properties were studied using both experimental and theoretical methods, which has provided insight into the structure–property relationship of these inorganic–organic semiconductors.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Photoswitching dynamics of a guanidine anion receptor

Photoswitchable molecules involving large-scale structural changes such as E/Z photoisomerization offer remarkable opportunities for light-stimulated catch-and-release chemical separations. While the feasibility of this photochemically driven mechanism has been demonstrated in pioneering studies, the electronic excited-state relaxation processes and concomitant structural changes of such a functional photoswitcher remain largely unexplored. Here, we investigate an exceptional photoswitchable molecule, 2-pyridyl-diiminoguanidinium (2PyDIG), which exhibits strong and selective anion binding, along with an extraordinary capability for light-induced release of a guest ion. Through time-resolved fluorescence measurements and multireference and time-dependent density functional theory calculations, we reveal the dynamics underlying electronic excited state relaxation and photoisomerization central to photoswitching. A very rapid and dominant decay component was found that is consistent with radiationless de-excitation from S 1 to S 0 through conical intersections. This process competes effectively with the slower photoisomerization process taking place in 94 ps. We further identified the underlying causes through theoretical calculations and potential routes towards improved photoisomerization efficiencies.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Detection of Br and I as atomic anions using liquid sampling – atmospheric pressure glow discharge/Orbitrap mass spectrometry

The quantification and determination of halogen isotope composition is essential in many fields including geochemistry and nuclear forensics. Detection of the halogen elements is commonly attempted with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) however, there are multiple challenges faced. Most significantly this includes very poor ionization efficiency and the potential for isobaric interferences from either matrix or plasma species. Thus, sensitivity and accuracy are often limiting issues. Here a liquid sampling-atmospheric pressure glow discharge (LS-APGD) ionization source is coupled with an ultrahigh resolution Orbitrap MS to perform halogen detection of bromine and iodine as initial analytes. This facilitates simple and sensitive detection of these elements as atomic anions from simple aqueous salt solutions. Collision-induced dissociation (CID) and higher-energy collisional dissociation (HCD) energies were optimized to produce the maximum response of Br − and I − . The LS-APGD conditions were optimized using a design of experiments (DOE) approach for Br − and I − concurrently. Response curves for Br − and I − solutions determined limit of detection (LOD) values of 50 pg and 5 pg, respectively, in 20 μL aliquots. The curves indicated response factors of 0.67 for 79 Br − and 0.90 for 127 I − . Br isotope ratios were determined with precision between 0.7 and 7.3% RSD, with the isotope ratios determined with precision 0.8% RSD at concentrations above the limit of quantification. Preliminary tests were conducted to evaluate the effect of different cations (Na + , K + , and Mg 2+ ) on Br − responses, with no discernible impacts observed on the halogen signal responses. This study demonstrates the potential use of the LS-APGD-Orbitrap-MS for the detection of multiple halogens while avoiding interferences, minimizing sample preparation, and overcoming ionization barriers.

Lang, Dehlia A. [Clemson University, SC (United St↗
DOE OSTI2026

Cyclic olefin copolymer-based reinforced anion exchange membranes for water electrolyzers

Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) have emerged as a promising technology for water electrolysis in hydrogen production since they offer significant cost reduction in choices of electrocatalysts and bipolar plates. However, AEMs satisfying multiple requirements of high ionic conductivity, good chemical stability, robust mechanical properties, scalable synthesis, and low manufacturing costs are rare. Herein, we introduce quaternary ammonium functionalized cyclic olefin copolymers (COCs) as a new class of chemically stable and low-cost AEM materials. To further enhance the mechanical robustness, we prepared reinforced composite AEMs by impregnating the ionically functionalized COC into a mechanically robust matrix. The resulting reinforced composite membrane exhibits a high hydroxide conductivity of 127 mS cm −1 and excellent mechanical strength. In water electrolyzers, the MEA demonstrated outstanding performance, achieving a current density of 2.24 A cm −2 at 1.8 V, attributable to high conductivity, enhanced mechanical properties, and good alkaline stability of the composite membrane. These results indicate that the COC-based AEMs demonstrate good potential for application in AEM electrolyzers.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2025

Voltage breakdown analyses in anion exchange membrane water electrolysis – the contributions of catalyst layer resistance on overall overpotentials

Despite many recent advances, overpotentials remain high for anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWEs). Voltage breakdown analyses (VBA) can help decouple the origins of overpotentials and facilitate design decisions to improve cell performance, but studies investigating how to adapt and apply VBA to AEMWEs are lacking. Specifically, catalyst layer resistances and their contributions to overpotentials are not consistently quantified in water electrolysis and are rarely quantified for AEMWEs. This work presents a systematic methodology for VBA tailored to AEMWEs, including an approach to Tafel analysis in the absence of a reference electrode and under conditions where both the oxygen evolution reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction exhibit significant overpotentials. Catalyst layer resistance contributions are diagnosed via changes in the catalyst layer thickness, transport layer porosity, ionomer content, and electrolyte concentration. In this study, we explain discrepancies between inherent catalytic kinetics and device level performance and identify catalyst layer design strategies to reduce catalyst layer resistances.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

Photoelectron spectra of copper oxide cluster anions from first principles methods

We present results and analyses for the photoelectron spectra of small copper oxide cluster anions (CuO – , CuO – 2 , CuO – 3 , and Cu 2 O – ). The spectra are computed using various techniques, including density functional theory (DFT) with semi-local, global hybrid, and optimally tuned range-separated hybrid functionals, as well as many-body perturbation theory within the GW approximation based on various DFT starting points. The results are compared with each other and with the available experimental data. We conclude that as in many metal-organic systems, self-interaction errors are a major issue that is mitigated by hybrid functionals. However, these need to be balanced against a strong role of non-dynamical correlation—especially in smaller, more symmetric systems—where errors are alleviated by semi-local functionals. In conclusion, the relative importance of the two phenomena, including practical ways of balancing the two constraints, is discussed in detail.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

Dipole-bound excited states and resonant photoelectron imaging of phenoxide and thiophenoxide anions

We report photodetachment and resonant photoelectron-imaging studies of cryogenically cooled phenoxide (C 6 H 5 O – ) and thiophenoxide (C 6 H 5 S – ) anions. In a previous study, a dipole-bound excited state was observed for C 6 H 5 O – at 97 cm –1 below the detachment threshold. Eight resonant photoelectron spectra were obtained via excitations to eight vibrational levels of the dipole-bound state (DBS) followed by autodetachment. In this paper, we present a complete photodetachment spectrum of C 6 H 5 O – covering a spectral range 2600 cm –1 above the detachment threshold and revealing nine additional vibrational resonances of the DBS. We also report the first observation of a dipole-bound excited state for C 6 H 5 S – , 39 cm –1 below its detachment threshold of 18 982 cm –1 . Photodetachment spectroscopy covering a spectral range 1500 cm –1 above the threshold reveals twelve vibrational resonances for the DBS of C 6 H 5 S – . By tuning the detachment laser to the vibrational resonances in the DBS of C 6 H 5 O – and C 6 H 5 S – , we obtain highly non-Franck-Condon resonant photoelectron spectra, as a result of mode-selectivity and the Δv = –1 propensity rule for vibrational autodetachment. Five new fundamental vibrational frequencies are obtained for the ground state of the C 6 H 5 O ( X 2 B 1 ) radical. Intramolecular inelastic scattering is observed in some of the resonant photoelectron spectra, leading to the excitation of the Franck-Condon-inactive lowest-frequency bending mode (ν 20 ) of C 6 H 5 O. The first excited state of C 6 H 5 O ( A 2 B 2 ) is observed to be 0.953 eV above the ground state. Twelve resonant photoelectron spectra are obtained for C 6 H 5 S – , allowing the measurements of seven fundamental vibrational frequencies of the C 6 H 5 S radical, whereas the non-resonant photoelectron spectrum exhibits only a single Franck-Condon active mode. The current study again demonstrates that the combination of photodetachment spectroscopy and resonant photoelectron spectroscopy is a powerful technique to obtain vibrational information about polar radical species.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2019

Anion-mediated electronic effects in reducible oxides: Tuning the valence band of ceria via fluorine doping

Combining experimental spectroscopy and hybrid density functional theory calculations, we show that the incorporation of fluoride ions into a prototypical reducible oxide surface, namely, ceria(111), can induce a variety of nontrivial changes to the local electronic structure, beyond the expected increase in the number of Ce 3+ ions. Our resonant photoemission spectroscopy results reveal new states above, within, and below the valence band, which are unique to the presence of fluoride ions at the surface. With the help of hybrid density functional calculations, we show that the different states arise from fluoride ions in different atomic layers in the near surface region. In particular, we identify a structure in which a fluoride ion substitutes for an oxygen ion at the surface, with a second fluoride ion on top of a surface Ce 4+ ion giving rise to F 2p states which overlap the top of the O 2p band. The nature of this adsorbate F – –Ce 4+ resonant enhancement feature suggests that this bond is at least partially covalent. Here, our results demonstrate the versatility of anion doping as a potential means of tuning the valence band electronic structure of ceria.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2019

Practical GW scheme for electronic structure of 3 d -transition-metal monoxide anions: ScO - , TiO - , CuO - , and ZnO -

The GW approximation to many-body perturbation theory is a reliable tool for describing charged electronic excitations, and it has been successfully applied to a wide range of extended systems for several decades using a plane-wave basis. However, the GW approximation has been used to test limited spectral properties of a limited set of finite systems (e.g., frontier orbital energies of closed-shell sp molecules) only for about a decade using a local-orbital basis. Here, we calculate the quasiparticle spectra of closed- and open-shell molecular anions with partially and completely filled 3 d shells (shallow and deep 3 d states, respectively), ScO - , TiO - , CuO - , and ZnO - , using various levels of GW theory, and compare them to experiments to evaluate the performance of the GW approximation on the electronic structure of small molecules containing 3 d transition metals. We find that the G -only eigenvalue self-consistent GW scheme with W fixed to the PBE level ($G_nW_0$@PBE), which gives the best compromise between accuracy and efficiency for solids, also gives good results for both localized ( d ) and delocalized ( sp ) states of 3 d -transition-metal oxide molecules. The success of $G_nW_0$@PBE in predicting electronic excitations in these systems reasonably well is likely due to the fortuitous cancellation effect between the overscreening of the Coulomb interaction by PBE and the underscreening by the neglect of vertex corrections. Together with the absence of the self-consistent field convergence error (e.g., spin contamination in open-shell systems) and the GW multisolution issue, the $G_nW_0$@PBE scheme gives the possibility to predict the electronic structure of complex real systems (e.g., molecule-solid and sp-d hybrid systems) accurately and efficiently.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗