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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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71 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Turn-On Conductivity with Proton-Coupled Electron Transport in Metal–Organic Frameworks

Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) has been studied for decades in the context of molecular reactivity, but its impact on long-range electron transport is barely understood. When defined broadly as ion-coupled charge transport (ICCT), relevant systems include lithium-ion battery electrodes, electrochromic coatings, and myriad electrocatalysts. Despite ample evidence that ion-electron coupling enhances or diminishes the performance of these devices, little is known about the experimental signatures of ICCT and the microscopic factors that govern its mechanism. Here, we expect that ion-electron coupling becomes especially relevant in high surface area materials, such as the layered electrodes of intercalation batteries, due to the close proximity of itinerant electrons and electrolyte. Here, we report an electrochemical investigation into a family of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that serves as a well-defined platform for understanding the effect of ICCT on both elec- tronic and ionic conductivity. Through photochemical doping of e - –H + pairs and introduction of solvent guest molecules, the Ti-containing MOFs convert from electronic-only insulators conductors (σ e ≈ 10 -12 S cm -1 ) to mixed ion-electron semiconduc- tors (σ e ≈ 10 -7 S cm -1 , σ ion ≈ 10 -5 S cm -1 ). Direct current and alternating current techniques support the existence of proton- electron coupling and, critically, that improved ionic conductivity enhances electronic conductivity. Taken together, these results provide direct evidence that PCET enables long-range charge transport and generalized electrochemical tools and synthetic methods for studying ion-electron coupling in materials broadly.

Charge transport↗
DOE OSTI2021

Surface and Bulk Oxygen Kinetics of BaCo 0.4 Fe 0.4 Zr 0.2-X Y X O 3-δ Triple Conducting Electrode Materials

Triple ionic-electronic conductors have received much attention as electrode materials. In this work, the bulk characteristics of oxygen diffusion and surface exchange were determined for the triple-conducting BaCo 0.4 Fe 0.4 Zr 0.2-X Y X O 3-δ suite of samples. Y substitution increased the overall size of the lattice due to dopant ionic radius and the concomitant formation of oxygen vacancies. Oxygen permeation measurements exhibited a three-fold decrease in oxygen permeation flux with increasing Y substitution. The DC total conductivity exhibited a similar decrease with increasing Y substitution. These relatively small changes are coupled with an order of magnitude increase in surface exchange rates from Zr-doped to Y-doped samples as observed by conductivity relaxation experiments. The results indicate that Y-doping inhibits bulk O 2- conduction while improving the oxygen reduction surface reaction, suggesting better electrode performance for proton-conducting systems with greater Y substitution.

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

Ion irradiation of iron chalcogenide superconducting films

Iron-chalcogenide FeSe x Te 1-x (Fe(Se,Te)) superconductors have attracted a great deal of interests in both fundamental physics and potential applications. While Majorana zero-modes hosted by the Fe(Se,Te) superconductors hold great promise for topological quantum computing, low-anisotropy and very high upper critical fields make Fe(Se,Te) an excellent candidate for high magnetic field and energy applications. Recently, we demonstrated a route for creating structural defects by ion irradiation in the FST films, leading to strong flux pinning. Ion irradiation into Fe(Se,Te) films significantly improved the critical current density J c over a wide field range and for all orientations with respect to magnetic field. In particular, a robust enhancement of critical temperature T c and J c was realized simultaneously in the Fe(Se,Te) film irradiated with proton. Here, we provide a review of the ion irradiated Fe(Se,Te) films, including the film growth and characteristics before and after irradiations, design of irradiation process for different ion energy and species with irradiation simulations and experimental setups that are scalable for long length Fe(Se,Te) coated conductors.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

Fast cycling HTS based superconducting accelerator magnets: Feasibility study and readiness demonstration program driven by neutrino physics and muon collider needs

Development of energy-efficient fast cycling accelerator magnets is critical for the next generation of proton rapid cycling synchrotrons (RCS) for neutrino research and booster accelerators of future muon colliders. We see a unique opportunity for having such magnets to be built on base of High Temperature Superconductors (HTS). Besides being superconducting at relatively high temperatures, rare-earth HTS tapes have shown very small AC losses compared to low-temperature NbTi superconductor cables. Recent tests of the HTS-based 0.5 m long two-bore superconducting accelerator magnet have shown record high dB/dt ramping rates of about 300 T/s at 10 Hz repetition rate and 0.5 T B-field span. No temperature rise in 6 K cooling He was observed within the 0.003 K error setting the upper limit on the cryogenic power loss in the magnet conductor coil to be less than 0.2 W/m. Based on this result we outline a possible upgrade of this test magnet design to 2 T B-field in the 10 mm beam gap with the dB/dt ramping rates up to 1000 T/s. The power test results of this short sample magnet will be used to project both cryogenic and electrical power losses as a function of the magnet B-field and the dB/dt ramping rates. Then these projections will be scaled to the range of expected accelerator magnet beam gaps and B-fields for the proton and muon RCS accelerators. We invite collaborators to join these studies and call for support of the R&D program aimed at comprehensive demonstration of this approach that includes design, construction, and power tests of a long prototype of the HTS-based fast-cycling accelerator magnet by 2028.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Mechanical and Thermal Analysis of an HTS Superconducting Magnet for an Achromatic Gantry for Proton Therapy

The mechanical and thermal analysis of the superconducting magnets, forming an innovative fixed-field bending section for use in a proton therapy gantry, is presented here. In this work, the design concept has a large momentum acceptance, covering the full proton energy range of 70 to 220 MeV with fixed field in the superconducting magnets, and uses a simple magnet geometry based on double-pancake high temperature superconductor coils. The main planned steps for the assembly and fabrication of the magnets are discussed. The mechanical analyses of the magnet, with emphasis on the stress state of the conductor during the powering of the magnet, is here described. The thermal analysis investigating the adequacy of the copper structure surrounding the conductor to extract the heat deposited in the conductor during powering is also discussed in detail.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

Platinum Group Metal Catalysts: Supply Chain Deep Dive Assessment

The report “America’s Strategy to Secure the Supply Chain for a Robust Clean Energy Transition” lays out the challenges and opportunities faced by the United States in the energy supply chain as well as the federal government plans to address these challenges and opportunities. It is accompanied by several issue-specific deep dive assessments, including this one, in response to Executive Order 14017 “America’s Supply Chains,” which directs the Secretary of Energy to submit a report on supply chains for the energy sector industrial base. The Executive Order is helping the federal government to build more secure and diverse U.S. supply chains, including energy supply chains. This report focuses on the supply chain for catalysts, specifically platinum group metal (PGM) catalysts, used for decarbonizing energy technologies. Catalysts are substances that increase the rate, conversion, and selectivity of chemical reactions and are used in a variety of applications such as chemical manufacturing, petroleum refining, and catalytic converters. Catalysts containing PGMs (“PGM catalysts”) are particularly useful in widespread industrial applications, including the production of high-volume chemicals such as ammonia, acetic acid, nitric acid, and the refining of crude oil into petroleum products. The PGM metals possess extraordinary properties such as being active oxidation and hydrogenation catalysts; excellent electrical conductors and electrodes; and outstanding adsorbers of oxygen and hydrogen. Within the energy industrial base, PGM catalysts improve the energy and materials efficiency of petroleum refining and chemical industry processes and reduce energy consumption in manufacturing. In addition to their use in catalytic converters, PGM catalysts are important to maximizing the efficiency of emerging decarbonization technologies, specifically in proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers for green hydrogen production from water and PEM fuel cells for transportation and stationary energy storage. Green hydrogen is expected to play a significant role in decarbonization scenarios.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2020

RECORD FAST CYCLING ACCELERATOR MAGNET BASED ON HIGH TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTOR

We report on the High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) based prototype accelerator magnet capable to operate at 12 T/s B-field ramping rate with a very low supporting cryogenic cooling power thus indicating a feasibility of its application in the accelerator requiring high repetition rate and high average beam power. The magnet is designed to simultaneously accelerate two particle beams in the separate beam gaps energized by a single conductor. The design, construction and the power test of the prototype fast-cycling HTS based accelerator magnet is presented while the more detailed description and power test data analysis s given in [1]. As example, the measured cryogenic power loss limit is discussed in terms of the feasibility of application of such a magnet for the construction of the 8 GeV dual proton beam Booster.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Large enhancement of the in-field critical current density of YBCO coated conductors due to composite pinning landscape

YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 -based coated conductors (CCs) achieve the highest critical current densities (J c ) of any known superconductor and are a key technology for applications such as rotatory machines, high-field magnets and power transmission. Incorporation of nano-sized non-superconducting second phases as additional vortex pinning centers has been considered the most amenable route to further enhance J c at an industrial scale, and has been successfully used in commercial CCs. The resulting pinning landscape is quite complex, with both synergistic and competing interactions among the various types of defects. Particle irradiation, on the other hand, allows for a controlled post-processing incorporation of a well-defined defect morphology. We have previously shown that irradiation with protons and other light ions can further enhance the in-field J c in commercial state-of-the-art CCs. Here we develop a combined irradiation process that increases J c above values previously achieved by irradiating with only one species. Our new approach involves sequentially irradiating with 250 MeV Au ions and 4 MeV protons. For example, at T ~ 27 K (liquid neon) and μ 0 H ~ 4 T, a region of interest for rotatory machines applications, we obtain J c ~ 5 MA cm -2 , which is about 40% higher than the values produced by the individual irradiations. Finally, we conclude that this is due to the synergistic pinning effects of the introduced splayed, non-uniform columnar defects and small clusters.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Design of a compact, cryogen-free superconducting solenoid for the electron lens of the Fermilab Integrable Optics Test Accelerator (IOTA)

The proposed electron lens for Fermilab's Integrable Optics Test Accelerator (IOTA) will broaden its capabilities by enabling new research in nonlinear integrable optics, space-charge compensation, proton beam cooling, and more. The electron lens is based on a 5–10 keV, 1–2 A electron beam, shaped using a 0.7 m long, 0.8 T solenoidal magnetic field. A cryogen-free superconducting solenoid has been designed to provide this solenoidal field, taking into consideration the constraints on space, utilities, and infrastructure in the IOTA experimental hall. The solenoid is made of copper stabilized niobium-titanium conductor, conduction-cooled using 4 K closed-cycle cryocoolers. This paper describes the overall design of the solenoid encompassing its mechanical construction, current leads optimization, cryogenic thermal modeling that provides estimates of cooldown time and static/dynamic heat loads, and quench analysis.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Quench Simulation and Validation for EIC Direct Wind Magnets

The Electron-Ion Collider (EIC), a new facility to be built in the United States at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory in collaboration with Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility-will be the only new particle collider in the U.S. for the next 10∼20 years. The EIC project will investigate the origin of mass and building blocks of the Universe. It will accelerate and collide beams of electrons with protons and nuclei. Unlike any collider that has ever existed before, both EIC’s particle beams will be polarized, meaning their spins will be aligned in a controlled way to allow for precision measurements. Different types of new superconducting magnets will be required near the interaction region (IR) of EIC. A 6-around-1 NbTi cable will be used for some of those new superconducting magnets. Given the relatively smaller conductors used for those direct wind magnets, the overall engineering current density will be 2–3 times higher in comparison to traditional collared superconducting magnets in other accelerator magnets. This is technically challenging and potentially represents high risks for quench protection. Here, in this paper we use different tools and methods for quench simulation for several EIC direct wind magnets. We also present results of a sensitivity study, exploring different material properties and Jc curves. This paper also discusses and validates the quench simulation results with measurement results from a small-scale serpentine magnet tested at BNL in October 2024.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Irradiation-induced gas production in REBCO-based magnet materials used for future compact fusion reactors

Nuclear fusion is an enticing alternative to current sources of energy, with multilayered Rare-Earth Barium Copper Oxide (REBCO) coated conductors deemed pivotal in the race toward fully realized, commercially viable, and magnetic confinement fusion reactors. In this study, we simulated the ion spectrum expected to evolve from REBCO's nickel-based Hastelloy C-276 substrate and copper stabilizer in an affordable robust compact-like reactor. We then emulated this gas production through helium implantation to investigate changes in materials and superconducting properties. Our results revealed that the substrate and stabilizer are capable of producing protons energetic enough to recoil throughout the tape thickness in appreciable doses, and alphas energetic enough to deposit 7.54 × 1014 ions/cm2 or 50.1 helium appm in the superconducting layer over a 30-year reactor lifetime. The superconducting layer of SuperPower® tapes exhibited at least double the swelling rate of the other major layers, and both SuperPower and Fujikura Ltd. tapes displayed microstructural changes in the REBCO layer not observed in isotropic metals. For the estimated lifetime fluence, the Fujikura tapes showed a ∼1 K reduction in critical temperature and a 32% degradation in critical current for compact reactor-relevant conditions (16 T, 20 K). Nuclear transmutation, low-temperature solder implantations, gas-ion evolution, the influence of gas production on vortex dynamics, and other related considerations are also discussed.

Reis, Chris↗
DOE OSTI2023

Conceptual Design of a 20 T Hybrid Cos-Theta Di- pole Superconducting Magnet for Future High-Energy Particle Accelerators

High energy physics research will need more and more powerful circular accelerators in the next decades. It is therefore desirable to have dipole magnets able to produce the largest possible magnetic field, in order to keep the machine diameter within a reasonable size. A 20 T dipole is considered a desired achievement since it would allow the construction of an 80 km machine, able to circulate 100 TeV proton beams. In order to reach 20 T, a hybrid Low-Temperature Superconductor (LTS) - High-Temperature Superconductor (HTS) magnet is needed, since LTS technology is presently limited to ~16 T for accelerator magnet applications. In this paper, we present the design of a 6 layers 20 T hybrid dipole magnet using Nb3Sn (LTS) and Bi2212 (HTS). We show that it is possible to achieve this magnetic field with accelerator field quality, with sufficient margin on a realistic conductor, keeping the stresses within safe limit, avoiding conductor degradation

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Conceptual Design of a 20 T Hybrid Cos-Theta Dipole Superconducting Magnet for Future High-Energy Particle Accelerators

High energy physics research will need more and more powerful circular accelerators in the next decades. It is therefore desirable to have dipole magnets able to produce the largest possible magnetic field, in order to keep the machine diameter within a reasonable size. A 20 T dipole is considered a desired achievement since it would allow the construction of an 80 km machine, able to circulate 100 TeV proton beams. In order to reach 20 T, a hybrid Low-Temperature Superconductor (LTS) - High-Temperature Superconductor (HTS) magnet is needed, since LTS technology is presently limited to ~16 T for accelerator magnet applications. In this paper, we present the design of a 6 layers 20 T hybrid dipole magnet using Nb 3 Sn (LTS) and Bi2212 (HTS). Here we show that it is possible to achieve this magnetic field with accelerator field quality, with sufficient margin on a realistic conductor, keeping the stresses within safe limit, avoiding conductor degradation.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Fundamental studies of thermal and electrical transport in microporous metal-organic frameworks

In this work, we established porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as designer conductors of electrons and ions relevant to fundamental research and technological applications. MOFs are porous, crystalline materials composed of organic linkers and inorganic nodes. While most MOFs are insulating with respect to ionic and electronic charge carriers, a number of exceptions have been reported in recent years. Electrically conductive MOFs are highly attractive for applications including electrical energy storage, chemiresistive sensing, and optoelectronics because of their high surface areas and tunable chemical properties. Ion-conducting MOFs are desirable for the synthetically tunable size, shape, and polarity of their pore environments, allowing for the tailored development of solid state electrolytes for metal-ion batteries. We developed systematic strategies for the design of MOFs that conduct ions and electrons. For each objective, we leveraged the versatile chemistry of these materials to obtain frameworks with targeted properties towards electronic or ionic charge carriers. We studied the factors that govern electrical transport in MOFs in order to gain fundamental knowledge of this emerging class of materials. We took several approaches to tackle this problem from multiple angles. Namely, we synthesized and characterized new frameworks, investigated post-synthetic modifications to enhance conductivity, and correlated theory and experiment to uncover new mechanistic findings. These results, which put forth new design principles for conductive MOFs, move the field toward one of the DOE Basic Energy Sciences Grand Challenges: to “design and perfect atom- and energy-efficient synthesis of revolutionary new forms of matter with tailored properties.” In addition to investigating the movement of electrons in MOFs, we also studied the movement of other charged species in MOFs, such as protons, lithium, and magnesium. Proton-conducting frameworks could be appealing materials for solid state electrolytes in fuel cells. In addition, they contain crystallographically defined proton-conducting channels, in contrast with state-of-the-art polymer membranes such as Nafion, which are amorphous. Controlling pore size and polarity in MOFs can thus shed light on proton and other ion transport mechanisms, ultimately enabling the design of more advanced electrolyte materials and potentially novel electrical energy storage materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Proton surface exchange kinetics of perovskite triple conducting thin films for protonic ceramic electrolysis cells: BaPr 0.9 Y 0.1 O 3–δ (BPY) vs. Ba 1–x Co 0.4 Fe 0.4 Zr 0.1 Y 0.1 O 3–δ (BCFZY)

Protonic ceramic electrolysis cells (PCECs) are an attractive green H 2 production technology, given their intermediate-temperature operating range and ability to produce dry H 2 . However, PCECs will benefit from development of more efficient and durable “triple conducting” anodes where steam is split, H incorporated, and oxygen evolved. In this work, we evaluated the kinetics of the steam-splitting/H incorporation reaction on BaPr 0.9 Y 0.1 O 3–δ (BPY) in comparison to the benchmark Ba 1–x Co 0.4 Fe 0.4 Z r0.1 Y 0.1 O 3–δ (BCFZY) composition, replacing most of the transition metal elements (Co, Fe, Zr) with the lanthanide Pr. We prepared geometrically well-defined perovskite BPY and BCFZY thin films by pulsed laser deposition and performed simultaneous optical transmission relaxation and electrical conductivity relaxation measurements at 400–500 °C in 0.21 atm O 2 during switching of the steam partial pressure to isolate and compare their proton surface exchange coefficients (k). The k values of BPY were comparable to those of BCFZY and more stable over time. According to angle-resolved XPS and STEM-EDS mapping of FIB cross-sections, the surface of BPY exhibited Ba enrichment, Pr deficiency, and Si contamination. In contrast, BCFZY exhibited Ba deficiency throughout, no obvious surface segregation, and less Si contamination. The Ba segregation on the BPY film appears to have promoted steam splitting/H incorporation kinetics even though the more basic surface reacted with the acidic environmental SiO x H y . Faster kinetics observed on stoichiometric BCFZY vs. Ba-deficient BCFZY confirmed the benefit of a high A-site Ba concentration. This result contrasts with most work on perovskites applied in solid oxide electrolysis cell anodes, in which A-site segregation is considered deleterious for surface reaction kinetics.

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

Understanding the Impact of Hydrogen Activation by SrCe 0.8 Zr 0.2 O 3-δ Perovskite Membrane Material on Direct Non-Oxidative Methane Conversion

Direct non-oxidative methane conversion (DNMC) converts methane (CH 4 ) in one step to olefin and aromatic hydrocarbons and hydrogen (H 2 ) co-product. Membrane reactors comprising methane activation catalysts and H 2 -permeable membranes can enhance methane conversion by in situ H 2 removal via Le Chatelier's principle. Rigorous description of H 2 kinetic effects on both membrane and catalyst materials in the membrane reactor, however, has been rarely studied. In this work, we report the impact of hydrogen activation by hydrogen-permeable SrCe 0.8 Zr 0.2 O 3-δ (SCZO) perovskite oxide material on DNMC over an iron/silica catalyst. The SCZO oxide has mixed ionic and electronic conductivity and is capable of H 2 activation into protons and electrons for H 2 permeation. In the fixed-bed reactor packed with a mixture of SCZO oxide and iron/silica catalyst, stable and high methane conversion and low coke selectivity in DNMC was achieved by co-feeding of H 2 in methane stream. The characterizations show that SCZO activates H 2 to favor “soft coke” formation on the catalyst. The SCZO could absorb H 2 in situ to lower its local concentration to mitigate the reverse reaction of DNMC in the tested conditions. The co-existence of H 2 co-feed, SCZO oxide, and DNMC catalyst in the present study mimics the conditions of DNMC in the H 2 -permeable SCZO membrane reactor. The findings in this work offer the mechanistic understanding of and guidance for the design of H 2 -permeable membrane reactors for DNMC and other alkane dehydrogenation reactions.

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

Design of robust and versatile hydrocarbon-based single-ion-conducting polymer electrolytes

Hydrocarbon-based polymers offer several advantages, including lower environmental impacts, cost effectiveness, and the ability to finely tune properties. Here, we have developed trifluoromethanesulfonimide (TFSI)-functionalized poly(norbornene) (PNB) polymers utilizing a specifically designed oxa-Michael addition of a vinyl TFSI anion to an alcohol. Our results reveal that PNB-TFSI derivatives exhibit superior thermal stability and mechanical robustness compared with Nafion. The optimized PNB-TFSI-H-48 polymer (IEC 1.86 mmol/g) exhibits equivalent performance to Nafion as an anode ionomer in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell. Exchanging the counter ion to Li + enables PNB-TFSI to be used for Li-ion battery applications. Propylene carbonate plasticized PNB-TFSI derivatives achieve an Li-ion conductivity of over 10 −5 S/cm at 30°C. This Li polymer electrolyte exhibits excellent electrochemical stability (5 V vs. Li + /Li) and good cycling in a Li symmetric cell. These results highlight the potential and rational design of PNB-TFSI polymers for next-generation energy storage and conversion technologies.

08 HYDROGEN↗