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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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NASA NTRS1987

SWITCH user's manual

The planning program, SWITCH, and its surrounding changed-goal-replanning program, Runaround, are described. The evolution of SWITCH and Runaround from an earlier planner, DEVISER, is recounted. SWITCH's plan representation, and its process of building a plan by backward chaining with strict chronological backtracking, are described. A guide for writing knowledge base files is provided, as are narrative guides for installing the program, running it, and interacting with it while it is running. Some utility functions are documented. For the sake of completeness, a narrative guide to the experimental discrepancy-replanning feature is provided. Appendices contain knowledge base files for a blocksworld domain, and a DRIBBLE file illustrating the output from, and user interaction with, the program in that domain.

Source record↗

DOE OSTI2024

Extremum seeking control of distributed energy resources with decaying dither and equilibrium-based switching

Embodiments relate to an operating system coupled to and controlling at least one Distributed Energy Resource (DER) in a smart grid and includes an electricity distribution network and a 2-dimensional Extremum Seeking (2D-ES) controller coupled to network. The electricity distribution network has first and second inputs and one output and maps all active power and reactive power inputs to the smart grid providing measurements of an objective function. The 2D-ES controller controls the DER and includes an active power loop and a reactive power loop. The active power loop is in communication with the first input and the output, governs active power contribution, and receives measurements of the objective function which contain static and oscillatory components. The reactive power loop is in communication with the second input and the output, governs reactive power contribution, and receives measurements of the objective function which contain static and oscillatory components.

Arnold, Daniel↗

DOE OSTI2021

On the Equilibrium Electrostatic Potential and Light-Induced Charge Redistribution in Halide Perovskite Structures

Lead halide perovskites are semiconductor materials which are employed as nonintentionally doped absorbers inserted between two selective carrier transport layers (SCTL), realizing a p-i-n or n-i-p heterojunction. In our study, we have developed and investigated a lateral device, based on methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) in which the p-i-n heterojunction develops in the horizontal direction. Our research suggests that the effective doping level in the MAPbI3 film should be very low, below 1012 cm-3. Along the vertical direction, this doping level is not enough to screen the electric field of the buried heterojunction with the SCTL. The perovskite work function is therefore affected by the work function of the SCTL underneath. From drift-diffusion simulations, we show that intrinsic perovskite-SCTL structures develop mV range surface photovoltages (SPVs) under continuous illumination. However, perovskite-SCTL structures can develop SPVs of hundreds of mV, as confirmed by our measurements. We therefore analyzed the compatibility between low doping and low defect densities in the perovskite layer and such high SPV values using numerical modeling. It is shown that these high SPV values could originate from electronic processes due to large band offsets in the buried perovskite-SCTL heterojunctions, or at the SCTL-transparent conductive oxide (TCO) buried heterojunction. However, such electronic processes can hardly explain the long SPV persistence after switching off the illumination.

defects↗

DOE OSTI2020

Characterizing material transitions in large-scale Additive Manufacturing

Integrating Multiple Materials (MM) into large-scale Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a key for various industrial applications wishing to incorporate site-specific properties into geometrically complex designs that are difficult to manufacture with traditional techniques. Printing with multiple materials is typically accomplished by using layers as natural material boundaries, but having the capability to switch between materials within a single layer without pausing would further expand MM possibilities. This study used Cincinnati Incorporated’s Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) system to explore material transitions with a novel dual-hopper that enables in-situ material blending of a pelletized feedstock. Constructing MM and functionally graded material (FGM) structures requires depositing a specific material composition at a specific geometric location to achieve a desired performance. Furthermore, accurately implementing this with the BAAM’s blended extrusion system requires a thorough understanding of the transition between distinct material compositions. This study characterizes a step-change transition between neat acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and carbon fiber-reinforced ABS. Three distinct techniques were compared for analyzing the fiber content, and the transition zone between materials was characterized as a function of transition direction. The transition process was consistent to within 0.7 wt% carbon fiber variation between different layers and prints. The transition between materials was found to be directionally dependent, with ABS to CF/ABS having a transition length of 3.5 m compared to 3.2 m for CF/ABS to ABS. Furthermore, the transition from Material A to Material B was found to be repeatable with a possible variance in transition length of 0.3 m.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2019

Kinetic control of tunable multi-state switching in ferroelectric thin films

Deterministic creation of multiple ferroelectric states with intermediate values of polarization remains challenging due to the inherent bi-stability of ferroelectric switching. In this work we show the ability to select any desired intermediate polarization value via control of the switching pathway in (111)-oriented PbZr 0.2 Ti 0.8 O 3 films. Such switching phenomena are driven by kinetic control of the volume fraction of two geometrically different domain structures which are generated by two distinct switching pathways: one direct, bipolar-like switching and another multi-step switching process with the formation of a thermodynamically-stable intermediate twinning structure. Such control of switching pathways is enabled by the competition between elastic and electrostatic energies which favors different types of ferroelastic switching that can occur. As a whole, our work reflects an alternative approach that transcends the inherent bi-stability of ferroelectrics to create non-volatile, deterministic, and repeatedly obtainable multi-state polarization without compromising other important properties, and holds promise for non-volatile multi-state functional applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2021

Ferroelectricity in boron-substituted aluminum nitride thin films

This manuscript demonstrates ferroelectricity in B-substituted AlN thin films and a complementary set of first-principles calculations to understand their structure-property relationships. Al 1–x B x N films are grown by dual-cathode reactive magnetron sputtering on (110)W/(001)Al 2 O 3 substrates at 300°C at compositions spanning x = 0 to x = 0.20. X-ray diffraction studies indicate a decrease in both the c and a lattice parameters with increasing B concentration, resulting in a decrease in unit cell volume and a constant c/a axial ratio of 1.60 over this composition range. Films with 0.02 ≤ x ≤ 0.15 display ferroelectric switching with remanent polarizations exceeding 125 μCcm –2 while maintaining band gap energies of > 5.2eV. The large band gap allows low frequency hysteresis measurement (200 Hz) with modest leakage contributions. At B concentrations of x > 0.15, c-axis orientation deteriorates and ferroelectric behavior is degraded. Furthermore, density-functional theory calculations corroborate the structural observations and provide predictions for the wurtzite u parameter, polarization reversal magnitudes, and composition-dependent coercive fields.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRS1979

Siple station experiments on wave-particle interactions in the magnetosphere

Natural and controlled whistler-mode signals have been used to study nonlinear mechanisms of wave growth and wave-wave interactions (WWI) in the magnetosphere; three general classes of WWI (triggering, suppression, and entrainment) are identified and interpreted in terms of a model based on cyclotron resonance interaction. This model is also used to estimate the wave field intensity associated with different types of WWI. A new type of triggered emission, the band-limited impulse (BLI) is interpreted in terms of the switching of phase-bunched currents. In addition, an experiment to find a threshold for the excitation of the coherent wave instability is discussed, and observed VLF wave-induced transient bursts of X-rays, light and E-region ionization enhancements are considered with regard to a step function wave interacting with all resonant electrons in a given energy range.

Helliwell, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1981

A design approach to real-time formatting of high speed multispectral image data

A design approach to formatting multispectral image data in real time at very high data rates is presented for future onboard processing applications. The approach employs a microprocessor-based alternating buffer memory configuration whose formatting function is completely programmable. Data are read from an output buffer in the desired format by applying the proper sequence of addresses to the buffer via a lookup table memory. Sensor data can be processed using this approach at rates limited by the buffer memory access time and the buffer switching process delay time. This design offers flexible high speed data processing and benefits from continuing increases in the performance of digital memories.

Meredith, B. D.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Space-qualified Chalcogenide Materials through ISS MISSE Exposure —From Property to Application

In March 2021, twenty-four samples of various phase change materials (PCMs - Ge2Sb2Te5, Ge2Sb2Se4Te1, and Sb2Se3) along with metasurface optical components comprised of these PCMs, were delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE-14) test campaign [1]. Although PCMs have previously been noted for their resilience to various forms of radiation [2], they had not been tested in a realistic space environment until this exposure campaign with joint NASA and MIT collaboration. During the six-month total open exposure time in low earth orbit (LEO), high-resolution cameras scanned and captured photographs of the samples to detect changes as a function of time along with on-orbit measured temperature, UV radiation, total atomic oxygen fluence, and total ionizing radiation doses. The samples were returned to NASA Langley Research Center in March 2022 for post-flight characterization. This duplicated the preflight characterization (i.e., material composition and crystallinity that limits switching speed, index contrast, loss, etc.) conducted before launch. The space sector has witnessed tremendous growth within the past decade—not only from government agencies but also entrants from the private sector. Future growth in the capabilities of Earth observation, deep space, and planetary surface missions using miniaturized spacecraft platforms can only be sustained by innovations in the design of remote sensors and other sub-systems. Active metasurface optics with enhanced tunability and reconfigurability continues to redefine the boundaries of optical science [3]. The introduction of PCM technology and associated optical devices will help to accelerate the adoption of new architectures for reduced size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) platforms in space.Here we introduce results obtained from the MISSE-14 mission related to space qualification of PCM-based optic devices and constituent materials. We then discuss our recent work developing active integrated photonic devices and metasurface optics based on PCMs for space applications. This includes tunable and reconfigurable optical metasurface devices to support NASA space communication and LIDAR applications. PCMs are quickly becoming interesting photonics materials but questions related to mission suitability remain, particularly in regard to key properties like figures-of-merit (FOM, Δn/Δk), glass forming temperatures, and phase transition speeds. This talk will describe efforts to afford researchers the ability to have access to cost-effective data on exposure-induced changes to PCM fundamental physical and optical properties to assess their utility for space applications. The MISSE-14 sample exposure campaign allows a complete understanding of the limitations of the PCMs for various space-based electronic and optoelectronic applications.

Chalcogenide Phase change material↗

DOE OSTI2020

Linking low and high temperature NO oxidation mechanisms over Brønsted acidic chabazite to dynamic changes of the active site

The oxidation of NO over Brønsted acid sites in chabazite (CHA) zeolites shows an atypical temperature dependence; at low temperature the apparent activation energy is negative, but it becomes positive as the temperature exceeds a transition temperature. To explain this behavior we used density functional theory and statistical mechanics to investigate high and low temperature mechanisms for this reaction and propose a dynamic active site change in response to temperature variation. Our simulations show that the apparent activation barrier in the low temperature regime is more negative over Brønsted acidic CHA as compared to the siliceous zeolite framework. This effect is attributed to further enthalpic stabilization of the transition states by physical interaction with the H-CHA Brønsted acid sites. At elevated temperature, our calculations support both the existence and the significant catalytic role of NO+ in providing a modified active site. The temperature dependent transformation of the active site from H-CHA to NO-CHA sites may occur via two plausible ion-exchange mechanisms that define a transition temperature for the reaction. This transition temperature can be tuned by incorporating different trivalent metal atoms (B, Al, Ga or In) within the CHA framework. We found the lowest transition temperature for H-[In] CHA and H-[Ga]CHA. Here, the ability to control the dynamic response of the active site and the associated switch between low and high temperature mechanism with negative and positive apparent activation energy, respectively, is of fundamental interest for the design of zeolite catalysts operating in the presence of NO.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2022

Direct Observation of Modulated Radical Spin States in Metal–Organic Frameworks by Controlled Flexibility

Owing to their switchable spin states and dynamic electronic character, organic-based radical species have been invoked in phenomena unique to a variety of fields. When incorporated in solid state materials, generation of organic radicals proves challenging due to aggregation. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising candidates for immobilization and stabilization of organic radicals because of the tunable spatial arrangement of organic linkers and metal nodes, which sequesters the reactive species. Herein, a flexible, redox-active tetracarboxylic acid linker bearing two imidazole units was chosen to construct a new Zr 6 -MOF, NU-910, with scu topology. By exploiting the structural flexibility of NU-910, we successfully modulate the dynamics between an isolated organic radical species and an organic radical π-dimer species in the MOF system. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that through solvent exchange from N,N-diethylformamide to acetone, NU-910 undergoes a structural contraction with interlinker distances decreasing from 8.32 Å to 3.20 Å at 100 K. Organic radical species on the bridging linkers are generated via UV light irradiation. Direct observation of temperature-induced spin switches from an isolated radical species to a magnetically silent radical π-dimer in NU-910 after irradiation in the solid state was achieved via variable-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction and variable-temperature electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Ultraviolet–visible–near infrared spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations further substantiated the formation of a radical cation π-dimer upon irradiation. As a result, this work demonstrates the potential of using flexible MOFs as a platform to modulate radical spin states in the solid phase.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2021

Enabling complete multichannel nonadiabatic dynamics: A global representation of the two-channel coupled, 1,2 1 A and 1 3 A states of NH 3 using neural networks

Global coupled three-state two-channel potential energy and property/interaction (dipole and spin–orbit coupling) surfaces for the dissociation of NH 3 (Ã) into NH + H 2 and NH 2 + H are reported. The permutational invariant polynomial-neural network approach is used to simultaneously fit and diabatize the electronic Hamiltonian by fitting the energies, energy gradients, and derivative couplings of the two coupled lowest-lying singlet states as well as fitting the energy and energy gradients of the lowest-lying triplet state. The key issue in fitting property matrix elements in the diabatic basis is that the diabatic surfaces must be smooth, that is, the diabatization must remove spikes in the original adiabatic property surfaces attributable to the switch of electronic wavefunctions at the conical intersection seam. Here, we employ the fit potential energy matrix to transform properties in the adiabatic representation to a quasi-diabatic representation and remove the discontinuity near the conical intersection seam. The property matrix elements can then be fit with smooth neural network functions. The coupled potential energy surfaces along with the dipole and spin–orbit coupling surfaces will enable more accurate and complete treatment of optical transitions, as well as nonadiabatic internal conversion and intersystem crossing.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2025

Structural switching dynamically controls the doubly pseudoknotted Rous sarcoma virus–programmed ribosomal frameshifting element

A hallmark of retrovirus replication is the translation of two different polyproteins from one RNA through programmed –1 frameshifting. This is a mechanism in which the actively translating ribosome is induced to slip in the 5′ direction at a defined codon and then continues translating in the new reading frame. Programmed frameshifting controls the stoichiometry of viral proteins and is therefore under stringent evolutionary selection. Forty years ago, the first frameshifting stimulatory element was discovered in the Rous sarcoma virus. The ~120 nt RNA segment was predicted to contain a pseudoknot, but its 3D structure has remained elusive. Now, we have determined cryoEM and X-ray crystallographic structures of this classic retroviral element, finding that it adopts a butterfly-like double-pseudoknot fold. One “wing” contains a dynamic pyrimidine-rich helix, observed crystallographically in two conformations and in a third conformation via cryoEM. The other wing encompasses the predicted pseudoknot, which interacts with a second unexpected pseudoknot through a toggle residue, A2546. This key purine switches conformations between structural states and tunes the stability of interacting residues in the two wings. We find that its mutation can modulate frameshifting by as much as 50-fold, likely by altering the relative abundance of different structural states in the conformational ensemble of the RNA. Taken together, our structure–function analyses reveal how a dynamic double pseudoknot junction stimulates frameshifting by taking advantage of conformational heterogeneity, supporting a multistate model in which high Shannon entropy enhances frameshifting efficiency.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗

DOE OSTI2024

A Multi-Metrics In Situ Aging Detector for SiC Power MOSFET Modules with Full Driver-Integration Capability

In this paper, the concept and prototype of an aging detector for silicon carbide (SiC) power metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) are proposed and described. It leverages the resonant peak values of gate-source voltage at different instants during the switching transients to decode the change of multiple aging indicators, such as the increases of on-state resistance and threshold voltage. Modeling-based analysis is conducted to support the idea. The detector can be fully integrated into gate drivers without any additional connection to the power stage and is functional during normal power stage operation. A prototype unit was built, and preliminary tests were conducted to validate the idea and the practicality of the detector.

aging↗

NASA NTRS1986

Automatic-Control System for Safer Brazing

Automatic-control system for radio-frequency (RF) induction brazing of metal tubing reduces probability of operator errors, increases safety, and ensures high-quality brazed joints. Unit combines functions of gas control and electric-power control. Minimizes unnecessary flow of argon gas into work area and prevents electrical shocks from RF terminals. Controller will not allow power to flow from RF generator to brazing head unless work has been firmly attached to head and has actuated micro-switch. Potential shock hazard eliminated. Flow of argon for purging and cooling must be turned on and adjusted before brazing power applied. Provision ensures power not applied prematurely, causing damaged work or poor-quality joints. Controller automatically turns off argon flow at conclusion of brazing so potentially suffocating gas does not accumulate in confined areas.

Stein, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Architectures for reasoning in parallel

The research conducted has dealt with rule-based expert systems. The algorithms that may lead to effective parallelization of them were investigated. Both the forward and backward chained control paradigms were investigated in the course of this work. The best computer architecture for the developed and investigated algorithms has been researched. Two experimental vehicles were developed to facilitate this research. They are Backpac, a parallel backward chained rule-based reasoning system and Datapac, a parallel forward chained rule-based reasoning system. Both systems have been written in Multilisp, a version of Lisp which contains the parallel construct, future. Applying the future function to a function causes the function to become a task parallel to the spawning task. Additionally, Backpac and Datapac have been run on several disparate parallel processors. The machines are an Encore Multimax with 10 processors, the Concert Multiprocessor with 64 processors, and a 32 processor BBN GP1000. Both the Concert and the GP1000 are switch-based machines. The Multimax has all its processors hung off a common bus. All are shared memory machines, but have different schemes for sharing the memory and different locales for the shared memory. The main results of the investigations come from experiments on the 10 processor Encore and the Concert with partitions of 32 or less processors. Additionally, experiments have been run with a stripped down version of EMYCIN.

Hall, Lawrence O.↗

NASA NTRS2004

A Re-programmable Platform for Dynamic Burn-in Test of Xilinx Virtexll 3000 FPGA for Military and Aerospace Applications

Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) have played increasingly important roles in military and aerospace applications. Xilinx SRAM-based FPGAs have been extensively used in commercial applications. They have been used less frequently in space flight applications due to their susceptibility to single-event upsets. Reliability of these devices in space applications is a concern that has not been addressed. The objective of this project is to design a fully programmable hardware/software platform that allows (but is not limited to) comprehensive static/dynamic burn-in test of Virtex-II 3000 FPGAs, at speed test and SEU test. Conventional methods test very few discrete AC parameters (primarily switching) of a given integrated circuit. This approach will test any possible configuration of the FPGA and any associated performance parameters. It allows complete or partial re-programming of the FPGA and verification of the program by using read back followed by dynamic test. Designers have full control over which functional elements of the FPGA to stress. They can completely simulate all possible types of configurations/functions. Another benefit of this platform is that it allows collecting information on elevation of the junction temperature as a function of gate utilization, operating frequency and functionality. A software tool has been implemented to demonstrate the various features of the system. The software consists of three major parts: the parallel interface driver, main system procedure and a graphical user interface (GUI).

Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA)↗

NASA NTRS2014

Advanced Supported Liquid Membranes for CO2 Control in Extravehicular Activity Applications

Developing a new, robust, portable life support system (PLSS) is currently a high priority for NASA in order to support longer and safer extravehicular activity (EVA) missions. One of the critical PLSS functions is maintaining the carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in the suit at acceptable levels. Although the Metal Oxide (MetOx) canister has worked well, it has a finite CO2 adsorption capacity. Consequently, the unit would have to be larger and heavier to extend EVA times. Therefore, new CO2 control technologies must be developed to meet mission objectives without increasing the size of the PLSS. Although recent work has centered on sorbents that can be regenerated during the EVA, this strategy increases the system complexity and power consumption. A simpler approach is to use a membrane that selectively vents CO2 to space. A membrane has many advantages over current technology: it is a continuous system with no theoretical capacity limit, it requires no consumables, and it requires no hardware for switching beds between absorption and regeneration. Unfortunately, conventional gas separation membranes do not have adequate selectivity for use in the PLSS. However, the required performance could be obtained with a supported liquid membrane (SLM), which consists of a micro porous material filled with a liquid that selectively reacts with CO2 over oxygen (O2). In a current Phase II SBIR project, Reaction Systems has developed a new reactive liquid, which has effectively zero vapor pressure making it an ideal candidate for use in an SLM. The SLM function has been demonstrated with representative pressures of CO2, O2, and water (H2O). In addition to being effective for CO2 control, the SLM also vents moisture to space. Therefore, this project has demonstrated the feasibility of using an SLM to control CO2 in an EVA application. 1 President

Wickham, David T.↗