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810 records · Page 40

High‐Performance Rechargeable Lithium‐Chlorine Batteries with ALD Conformal Starburst Porous Graphene Positive Electrodes

Abstract Rechargeable alkali metal‐chlorine batteries are emerging as a promising high‐energy‐density solution. However, they confront significant challenges, including the primary issue stemming from the weak binding affinity of cathode materials for Cl 2 , which leads to a sluggish and inadequate supply of Cl 2 during the redox reactions, resulting in a shortened cycle life and low Coulombic efficiency (CE), particularly when operating at ultrahigh specific capacity outputs. Herein, an Al 2 O 3 ‐skinned heterostructured starburst porous graphene with conformal metasurfaces (Al 2 O 3 @rGO) is reported, crafted from a hierarchical porous starburst graphene arranged in a unique layered structure by the PTFE microemulsion skin effect, leveraging subsequent fluidized bed atomic layer deposition (FBALD) of Al 2 O 3 groups. Al 2 O 3 @rGO features superhydrophilicity, effective adsorption, fast kinetics from stable dynamic respiratory interface, high electrical and thermal conductivity anisotropy, intelligent thermal management and safe operation over a wide temperature range. Consequently, the Li‐Cl 2 @Al 2 O 3 @rGO battery achieves an ultrahigh discharge specific capacity of 5000 mAh g −1 at ≈100% CE, and even delivers stable cycling over 200 cycles with 2000 mAh g −1 at an average CE of 99.8% under low temperature environment of ‐40 °C. The scalable heterostructure approach offers a sustainable perspective of the development of functionalized metamaterials and metasurfaces for next‐generation safe and energy‐dense batteries and broader applications.

Chemistry

Heterotrophic respiration by soil microbes in a changing climate

Soil microbes strongly influence the soil organic carbon (SOC) pool, which globally stores ~2,000 PgC. Specifically, the balance between microbial heterotrophic respiration (R H ), which degrades SOC, and plant–microbe interactions that stabilize SOC determines whether terrestrial ecosystems are a net source or sink of CO 2 to the atmosphere. Here, in this Review, we evaluate how climate change alters these competing processes. R H is approximately half of total soil respiration, at ~50 PgC yr −1 , with 70% occurring in topsoils. Warming accelerates microbial metabolism, with a 10 °C temperature increase estimated to raise R H by ~50%, an effect that is particularly strong in Arctic soils. Warming also reduces soil moisture, further modulating R H , which responds nonlinearly to soil moisture, being limited by saturation and desiccation and meeting a maximum at intermediate levels. Consequently, R H is highly sensitive to future precipitation changes and drought. However, soil management strategies could enhance SOC stocks and persistence under climate change. Bacterial and fungal inoculants can promote SOC production and stabilization, while deep-rooting plants increase SOC inputs to deeper layers that experience lower R H . Agricultural practices and biochar amendments can also enhance SOC and reduce R H . Expanding field trials across regions, climates and soil types would improve empirical understanding of these responses and support better representation of R H in predictive models, enabling more accurate assessments of climate impacts on SOC storage.

Jansson, Janet K. [Pacific Northwest National Labo

On-Chip Tuning of Superconductivity in Fullerides via Current-Driven Rb + Intercalation

An in-operando electro-intercalation method for the on-chip synthesis of alkali-metal-intercalated materials and their Raman spectroscopic and transport characterization in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) is developed. We apply this method to synthesize fulleride superconductors via Rb + intercalation into a C 60 film. During the intercalation, we monitor the stoichiometry via UHV-Raman spectroscopy and probe superconductivity via transport measurements. An increase of the superconducting transition temperature from 7.0 K to 14.5 K is observed when the stoichiometry is tuned from Rb 2.7 C 60 to Rb 3 C 60 . In our experiment, an ionic Rb+ flux into the host material is induced by an applied electronic current via a Butler–Volmer-type mechanism. Electro-intercalation captivates through improved stoichiometric precision, the ability to smoothly vary stoichiometry via duration of current application, and the absence of a lower limit of the volume of the host material. It represents a powerful concept for the on-chip synthesis of intercalated materials, battery research, and beyond.

Raman

Glancing Angle Deposition in Gas Sensing: Bridging Morphological Innovations and Sensor Performances

Glancing Angle Deposition (GLAD) has emerged as a versatile and powerful nanofabrication technique for developing next-generation gas sensors by enabling precise control over nanostructure geometry, porosity, and material composition. Through dynamic substrate tilting and rotation, GLAD facilitates the fabrication of highly porous, anisotropic nanostructures, such as aligned, tilted, zigzag, helical, and multilayered nanorods, with tunable surface area and diffusion pathways optimized for gas detection. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of recent advances in GLAD-based gas sensor design, focusing on how structural engineering and material integration converge to enhance sensor performance. Key materials strategies include the construction of heterojunctions and core–shell architectures, controlled doping, and nanoparticle decoration using noble metals or metal oxides to amplify charge transfer, catalytic activity, and redox responsiveness. GLAD-fabricated nanostructures have been effectively deployed across multiple gas sensing modalities, including resistive, capacitive, piezoelectric, and optical platforms, where their high aspect ratios, tailored porosity, and defect-rich surfaces facilitate enhanced gas adsorption kinetics and efficient signal transduction. These devices exhibit high sensitivity and selectivity toward a range of analytes, including NO2, CO, H2S, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with detection limits often reaching the parts-per-billion level. Emerging innovations, such as photo-assisted sensing and integration with artificial intelligence for data analysis and pattern recognition, further extend the capabilities of GLAD-based systems for multifunctional, real-time, and adaptive sensing. Finally, current challenges and future research directions are discussed, emphasizing the promise of GLAD as a scalable platform for next-generation gas sensing technologies.

Chemistry

Unidirectional ray polaritons in twisted asymmetric stacks

Abstract The vast repository of van der Waals (vdW) materials supporting polaritons offers numerous possibilities to tailor electromagnetic waves at the nanoscale. The development of twistoptics—the modulation of the optical properties by twisting stacks of vdW materials—enables directional propagation of phonon polaritons (PhPs) along a single spatial direction, known as canalization. Here we demonstrate a complementary type of directional propagation of polaritons by reporting the visualization of unidirectional ray polaritons (URPs). They arise naturally in twisted hyperbolic stacks with very different thicknesses of their constituents, demonstrated for homostructures of$$\alpha$$ α -MoO 3 and heterostructures of$$\alpha$$ α -MoO 3 and$$\beta$$ β -Ga 2 O 3 . Importantly, their ray-like propagation, characterized by large momenta and constant phase, is tunable by both the twist angle and the illumination frequency. Apart from their fundamental importance, our findings introduce twisted asymmetric stacks as efficient platforms for nanoscale directional polariton propagation, opening the door for applications in nanoimaging, (bio)-sensing, or polaritonic thermal management.

Science & Technology - Other Topics

Enhanced Optical Contrast and Switching in Near‐Infrared Electrochromic Devices by Optimizing Conjugated Polymer Oligo(Ethylene Glycol) Sidechain Content and Gel Electrolyte Composition

Abstract A detailed investigation addressing the effects of functionalizing conjugated polymers with oligo(ethylene glycol) (EG n ) sidechains on the performance and polymer‐electrolyte compatibility of electrochromic devices (ECDs) is reported. The electrochemistry for a series of donor‐acceptor copolymers having near‐infrared (NIR)‐optical absorption, where the donor fragment is 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) or an EG n functionalized bithiophene (g2T) and the acceptor fragment is diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) functionalized with branched alkyl or EG n sidechains, is extensively probed. ECDs are next fabricated and it is found that EG n sidechain incorporation must be finely balanced to promote polymer‐electrolyte compatibility and provide efficient ion exchange. Proper electrolyte‐cation pairing and polymer structural tuning affords a 2x increase in optical contrast (from 12% to 24%) and >60x reduction in switching time (from 20 to 0.3 s). Atomic force microscopy (AFM)/grazing incidence wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (GIWAXS) characterization of the polymer film morphology/microstructure reveals that an over‐abundance of EG n sidechains generates large polymer crystallites, which can suppress ion exchange. Lastly, time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) indicates sidechain/electrolyte identity does not influence the electrolyte penetration depth into the films, and EG n sidechain inclusion increases electrolyte cation uptake. The material structural design insight and guidelines regarding the polymer‐electrolyte ion insertion/expulsion dynamics reported here should be of significant utility for developing next‐generation mixed ionic‐electronic conducting materials.

Chemistry

Adapter Signaling Evaluations on EVs [Slides]

In case J3400 and J3400/1 define a basic analog signaling approach for DC charging adapters to communicate over-temperature events to both the EV and EVSE. They also require the EV to implement mitigation and corrective actions in cases where the EVSE does not respond to adapter thermal signals. In this study, multiple production vehicles were evaluated for responsiveness to assess field readiness and ensure consistent performance in accordance with the SAE J1772, J3400 and J3400/1 standards. A series of test cases were developed and executed across different vehicles, using an adapter thermal breakout fixture designed by NLR for evaluations. The results revealed notable variations in behavior: some vehicles expected to comply with J1772 were found to be non-responsive under certain conditions. Additionally, while some EV OEMs appear to align with the J3400 standard, discrepancies exist due to its evolving nature, resulting in inconsistent implementation of the latest requirements. These findings highlight the need for alignment within standards organizations to ensure consistent interpretation, encourage compliance, and reduce potential confusion across implementations.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS

A Unified Beam-Dynamics and Hardware Design Framework for Hybrid Nonlinear-Kicker Injection in NSLS-II

Nonlinear kickers (NLKs) enable off-axis injection in ultralow-emittance storage rings by providing a strong kick to the injected beam while remaining nearly transparent to the stored beam. In hybrid schemes, a conventional four-kicker bump defines the injected trajectory, and the NLK reduces the first-turn action under constrained beam offset and optics conditions. Effective operation additionally requires stable and reproducible first-turn injection trajectories. We develop a compact action–angle framework that expresses NLK dynamics in terms of Courant–Snyder invariants and yields an analytical bound on achievable action reduction. This formulation provides direct design rules for NLK placement, phase advance, injected-beam offset, and kicker field profile. Within this framework, we identify the 8-wire NLK as a practical baseline and extend its design by relaxing the square-geometry constraint, enabling inward shifting of the off-axis field peak while preserving on-axis field and gradient cancellation. Application to the NSLS-II lattice shows how aperture, pulsed-power, and mechanical constraints combine to determine a coupled design solution. Multi-turn tracking confirms that candidate NLK locations maintain sufficient stay-clear (aperture-clearance) margin, while the optimized wire geometry reduces the required current and Lorentz force load. The results establish a unified approach for NLK-assisted injection design and provide a practical pathway for upgrades in diffraction-limited storage rings.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

Activation dynamics of a water-soluble human mu-opioid receptor

The mu-opioid receptor (MOR), a class A G protein-coupled receptor mediates opioid analgesia and remains a central target for pain therapeutics. While crystal structures of MOR exist, they provide limited insight into the receptor’s dynamic conformational landscape underlying function. Here, we engineered a thermostable water-soluble MOR variant (wsMOR) that retains native-like ligand-binding and activation dynamics. This variant enables high-yield production and detailed solution-phase structural studies that are challenging with membrane-embedded MOR, providing a valuable tool for studying receptor activation and aqueous-phase drug screening. Using a combined computational and experimental approach, we performed long-timescale all-atom molecular dynamics simulations together with neutron scattering and single-molecule FRET, revealing a structurally stable receptor with a diverse ensemble of conformations at different temporal resolutions. In the ligand-free state, wsMOR displayed high conformational flexibility, which decreased upon agonist binding, particularly in transmembrane helix 6, a hallmark of G protein-coupled receptor activation. Positive allosteric modulation and G protein binding further stabilized active-like states. These findings highlight wsMOR’s conformational plasticity across picosecond to millisecond timescales and provide a foundation for structure-guided development of next-generation opioid ligands with improved efficacy and safety.

E, Agyemang [University of Tennessee Knoxville]

A review of United States energy-only generator interconnection service policy and considerations for reform

Grid interconnection has emerged as a significant obstacle to the development of new electricity resources. There is growing interest in energy-only interconnection, which is an interconnection service option meant to allow the interconnection of new generators without ensuring their energy deliverability during all hours through the transmission system to customers. This approach potentially avoids upfront congestion-related transmission upgrades but could increase curtailment risk. Interest in energy-only interconnection is shaped by incomplete understanding of how interconnection policy functions in different jurisdictions, a knowledge gap that makes it difficult to determine how energy-only interconnection might be better used or re-designed. In this paper, we provide a regulatory review of energy-only interconnection in U.S. interconnection policy and practice, identifying jurisdictions in which rules are close to -or farther from-the theoretical concept of energy-only interconnection service. We find substantial jurisdictional differences in how energy-only interconnection is implemented, driven by differences in resource adequacy frameworks, real-time transmission operations, and state-level procurement practices. U.S. regulators have preferred local jurisdictional flexibility over federal prescription of interconnection study methods and procedures, which also contributes to differences among regions. Such findings raise fundamental questions about whether competition policies in electricity markets should extend beyond spot energy markets and into more prescriptive guidelines around interconnection rules and market entry. This paper sheds light on tensions that energy-only interconnection raises in allowing generators to access the transmission system on an as available basis and discusses how controlling thresholds for congestion-related network upgrades may be a barrier to electricity market entry.

Gorman, Will

First measurement of polarized spin-density matrix elements and differential cross sections dσ/dt in ω photoproduction off the proton for 2.7 < Eγ < 5.2 GeV using CLAS at Jefferson Lab

We report on the differential cross sections dσ/dt, the unpolarized spin-density matrix elements ρ 00 0 , ρ 1 − 1 0 , Re ρ 10 0 , and the first extraction of the polarized elements Im ρ 10 3 , Im ρ 1 − 1 3 for the reaction γp → pω using the CLAS spectrometer at Jefferson Laboratory. The ω mesons were detected in their dominant charged decay mode, ω → π + π − π 0 , and all t-dependent results are presented in a fine binning for incident photon energies between 2.73 and 5.16 GeV (corresponding to the center-of-mass energy range W ∈ [ 2.45, 3.25 ] GeV). All matrix elements are first measurements for − t > 0.6 GeV2. Moreover, differential cross sections dσ/d(cos Θ c . m . ω ) and the corresponding angle-dependent unpolarized spin-density matrix elements in the Adair frame are presented for the incident photon energy range 1.56–3.80 GeV (corresponding to W ∈ [ 1.95, 2.83 ] GeV). These new ω photoproduction data are consistent with earlier CLAS results but extend the energy range well beyond the nucleon resonance region into the Regge regime. The comparison with Regge-theory-based model predictions shows that the new data impose more stringent constraints on our understanding of ω photoproduction.

Hu, T.

Impact of the Annealing Temperature on the Local Se Distribution and Optical Properties in CdSexTe1-x Solar Cells by Multimodal X-ray Microscopy

The introduction of Se in CdTe solar-cell absorbers has led to multiple beneficial effects in the devices, including an increased short-circuit current and an extended charge-carrier lifetime. A critical manufacturing step of CdSexTe1-x solar cells is CdCl2 annealing at high temperatures, during which Se diffuses through the absorber layer. Understanding the local Se distribution in the absorber and its impact on optical properties of the material is key for the further development of this thin-film solar cell technology. In a multimodal x-ray scanning microscopy approach, we investigated the impact of the annealing temperature of CdSexTe1-x solar cells on the Se distribution and on optical characteristics of the material. For this purpose, we exploited an upgraded x-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL) detection unit that enables simultaneous spectrally and temporally resolved XEOL mapping at synchrotron facilities that are ideal for studying thin-film solar-cell materials with hard x-rays featuring high penetration depth and lateral resolution.

14 SOLAR ENERGY

A comparison of wrought and powder metallurgical FeCrAl claddings under simulated LWR accident transients

Iron-chromium-aluminum (FeCrAl) alloys are potential accident tolerant fuel (ATF) cladding candidates for light-water reactors but are difficult to fabricate as thin-walled tubes via conventional cast-and-wrought routes. Powder metallurgy (PM) offers a manufacturing alternative with improved compositional control, but its transient accident performance has not been directly benchmarked against wrought variants. This study evaluates the burst behavior of commercially developed PM-processed FeCrAl alloys, PM-C26M (Fe-12Cr-6Al-2Mo) and the high precipitate density FA-SMT (Fe-22Cr-5Al-3Mo), under simulated light-water reactor accident transient conditions. Burst testing was conducted using the Severe Accident Test Station with heating rates of 5 °C/s and 50 °C/s and internal pressures ranging from 25 MPa to 100 MPa. PM-C26M reproduced wrought C26M burst behavior within 7–37 °C across the stress range, indicating that PM processing does not compromise transient strength. FA-SMT exhibited markedly higher burst temperatures and reduced heating-rate sensitivity, consistent with its engineered precipitate strengthening. FA-SMT rupture exhibited axial "unzipping" rather than the lateral tearing characteristic of PM- and wrought C26M. Post-test EBSD and fractography indicate that this behavior is strongly correlated with strain-gated intergranular void nucleation associated with the dense precipitate architecture of FA-SMT, a response absent in the comparatively clean PM-C26M matrix and consistent with rupture morphologies reported for oxide-dispersion strengthened (ODS) FeCrAl of similar base-matrix chemistry to PM-C26M. These findings highlight the potential of powder metallurgy as a viable fabrication route for ATF claddings from an accident performance standpoint.

Bell, Sam [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000251905657)

Optimal binning of correlated measurements

Experimental measurements are commonly represented on a discrete grid, requiring a balance between granularity and statistical noise. Two strategies have traditionally been used to improve such representations: selecting an appropriate bin width to control discretization error and applying kernel-based smoothing to suppress fluctuations. Despite their shared goal, these approaches have largely developed independently, without a unified statistical description of how discretization and correlation jointly determine measurement precision. Here, we extend the discussion of optimal interval averaging to a correlation-aware setting by Gaussian process regression, which explicitly accounts for correlations among neighboring bins. Starting from first principles, we derive the mean-squared error of discretized measurements and obtain closed-form asymptotic expressions for the optimal bin width and correlation length. When recast in reduced variables, the theory reveals distinct universal scaling laws governing the error in the correlation-free and correlation-controlled regimes. Characterized by intrinsically smooth intensity profiles and counting-based statistics, neutron scattering measurements are well suited for demonstrating the enhanced error contraction enabled by inter-bin correlations. We show that such improvement is achievable over the experimentally accessible Q-range and across multiple instruments and material systems. These results show that explicitly accounting for correlations systematically reshapes the limits of precision in discretized, noise-limited measurements. More broadly, the framework provides a transferable statistical foundation for optimizing data representation, inference, and experimental design across the physical and data sciences.

Tung, Chi-Huan [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000221972074)

Atomistic‐Level Effects of Noncovalent Interactions and Crystalline Packing for Organic Material Structural Integrity upon Exposure to Gamma Radiation

Developing an atomistic understanding of ionizing radiation induced changes to organic materials is necessary for intentional design of greener and more sustainable materials for radiation shielding and detection. Cocrystals are promising for these purposes, but a detailed understanding of how the specific intermolecular interactions within the lattice upon exposure to radiation affect the structural stability of the organic crystalline material is unknown. This study evaluates atomistic-level effects of γ radiation on both single- and multicomponent organic crystalline materials and how specific noncovalent interactions and packing within the crystalline lattice enhance structural stability. Dose studies were performed on all crystalline systems and evaluated via experimental and computational methods. Changes in crystallinity were evaluated by p-XRD and free radical formation was analyzed via EPR spectroscopy. Type of intermolecular interactions and packing within the crystal lattice was delineated and related to the specific free radical species formed and the structural integrity of each material. Periodic DFT and HOMO-LUMO surface mapping calculations provided atomistic-level identifications of the most probable sites for the radicals formed upon exposure to γ radiation and relate intermolecular interactions and molecular packing within the crystalline lattice to experimental results.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH

A Reductively Stable Electrolyte Realizes Deep Cycling Behavior in Anode‐free Sodium Batteries

For anode‐free sodium batteries to achieve practical consideration, highly reversible chemistries require exceptional ≥99.95% coulombic efficiencies that maintain over prolonged cycling periods. To do so, consumption of this severely limited sodium inventory must be restricted while metal nucleation processes that comprise the in situ formed metal anode are improved. Herein, we describe a fluorine‐free carborane electrolyte that satisfies these criteria by emphasizing reductive stability and weakly coordinating anion behavior as design principles. We find this approach promotes the development of a thin, robust SEI chemistry rich in both organic speciation and boron. The electrolyte described herein exhibits ideal metal nucleation behavior on one‐micron thin carbonaceous current collector surfaces and achieves a metal deposition/stripping efficiency near parity for 400 cycles. This novel anode chemistry is introduced to anode‐free full cell configurations where 87% of the initial discharge capacity is retained after 1000 cycles at 2.0 C. In conclusion, post‐test characterization of deep‐cycled anode‐free cells reveals suppressed capacity fade in these systems is attributed to the chemical stability of the carborane anion.

anode-free

Nonlinear nanoelectrodynamics of a Weyl metal

Chiral Weyl fermions with linear energy-momentum dispersion in the bulk accompanied by Fermi-arc states on the surfaces prompt a host of enticing optical effects. While new Weyl semimetal materials keep emerging, the available optical probes are limited. In particular, isolating bulk and surface electrodynamics in Weyl conductors remains a challenge. We devised an approach to the problem based on near-field photocurrent imaging at the nanoscale and applied this technique to a prototypical Weyl semimetal TaIrTe 4 . As a first step, we visualized nano-photocurrent patterns in real space and demonstrated their connection to bulk nonlinear conductivity tensors through extensive modeling augmented with density functional theory calculations. Notably, our nanoscale probe gives access to not only the in-plane but also the out-of-plane electric fields so that it is feasible to interrogate all allowed nonlinear tensors including those that remained dormant in conventional far-field optics. Surface- and bulk-related nonlinear contributions are distinguished through their “symmetry fingerprints” in the photocurrent maps. Robust photocurrents also appear at mirror-symmetry breaking edges of TaIrTe 4 single crystals that we assign to nonlinear conductivity tensors forbidden in the bulk. Here, nano-photocurrent spectroscopy at the boundary reveals a strong resonance structure absent in the interior of the sample, providing evidence for elusive surface states.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC

Cooperative and bifunctional Ga-Ca-Cr 2 O 3 @CaO structured monoliths as versatile platform for reactive capture of CO 2 and its subsequent conversion to ethylene

Cooperative and bifunctional materials (BFMs) that integrate adsorbents and catalysts offer a promising strategy for the reactive capture of CO 2 to produce valuable fuels and chemicals. In this study, we developed structured BFMs via 3D printing that combine CaO as an adsorbent with Ga–Ca–Cr 2 O 3 metal oxides as the catalyst for the reactive capture of CO 2 and its subsequent conversion to C 2 H 4 via the oxidative dehydrogenation of C 2 H 6 (CO 2 -ODHE). Three different Ga–Ca compositions were used to modify the catalyst surface characteristics and enhance C 2 H 4 selectivity. In these formulations, Ga ions stabilize the oxygen lattice of the BFM, while Ca ions interact strongly with Cr to form CaCrO 4 , thereby altering the oxygen species and enhancing the material’s basic properties. Under adsorption–reaction conditions at 600–650 °C, the optimal BFM achieved an excellent C 2 H 4 selectivity of 96.4 %, attributed to a balanced redox process and improved basicity that facilitate efficient C 2 H 6 conversion and rapid desorption of C 2 H 4 without excessive oxidation. Overall, this work provides new insights into the formulation of BFMs monoliths and highlights the critical role of catalytic surface modification in enhancing C 2 H 4 selectivity in the CO 2 -ODHE reactive capture process.

C2H4 production