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At least 1,189 records · Page 66

Kinematic stability of roller pairs in free rolling contact

A set of generalized stability equations was developed for roller pairs in free rolling contact. A symmetric, dual contact model was used. Four possible external contact profiles that possess continuous contacting surfaces were studied. It was found that kinematic stability would be insured if the larger radius of transverse curvature, in absolute value, and the smaller rolling radius both exist on the roller that has the apex of its conical surface outboard of its main body. The stability criteria developed are considered to be useful for assessing axial restraint requirements for a variety of roller mechanisms and in the selection of roller contact geometry for traction drive devices.

Savage, M.↗

Potassium-Containing α-MnO 2 Nanotubes: The Impact of Hollow Regions on Electrochemistry

α-MnO 2 type materials have been studied as electrode materials in rechargeable batteries and electrocatalysts due to their 2 × 2 tunneled crystal structures capable of accommodating cations and their tunable physiochemical properties. In this study, we deliberately synthesized K + containing α-MnO 2 (K 0.9 Mn 8 O 16 ) hollow nanotubes varying the dimensions of the hollow regions and level of surface defects. The K 0.9 Mn 8 O 16 nanotube material samples have similar crystallinity, thermal stability, and average Mn oxidation state. Oxygen surface defects in the hollow regions were revealed through detailed studies using electron energy loss spectroscopy. The impact of the hollow regions and associated surface defects on the electrochemistry of K x Mn 8 O 16 were investigated using cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic intermittent titration technique, and galvanostatic cycling. The K 0.9 Mn 8 O 16 nanotubes with a large hollow region (~30 nm) and higher level of surface defects show higher apparent lithium ion diffusion coefficients and lower polarization compared to the nanotubes with a small hollow region (~10 nm). In-situ lithiation demonstrated that the dimensions of the nanotube walls expanded, but the hollow region did not change in size as result of lithiation. Furthermore, this research demonstrates that tuning particle architecture and surface defects can positively impact functional behavior of electrochemical storage materials.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

A State-Space Model for Stability Boundary Analysis of Grid-Following Voltage Source Converters Considering Grid Conditions

With the growing significance of renewable energy resources and energy storage systems, the number of grid-connected inverters has been rising at an increasingly rapid pace. Generally, these inverters are directly integrated with the distribution network by synchronizing with the grid voltage at the point of common coupling. However, the low grid strength and varying R/X ratios, as the common characteristics of most distribution networks or weak grids, can lead to dynamic interactions that comprise stability and limit the power transfer capacity of grid-connected inverters. To ensure stable operation of the inverters, researchers must determine the stability boundary, described as the maximum power transfer capacity of grid-connected inverters under the premise of maintaining system small-signal stability. For this purpose, we propose to formulate a state-space model of the system in the synchronously rotating dq-frame of reference and perform eigenvalue analysis to determine the stability boundary. With a detailed model of the control structure and parameters of the grid-connected inverters, the stability boundary is identified as a surface with respect to different grid strengths and R/X ratios. Case study results of proposed eigenvalue analysis are compared with those of admittance model-based stability analysis as well as time-domain simulation using a switching model in Matlab/Simulink, validating the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed eigenvalue analysis for stability boundary identification.

grid-connected inverters↗

An LDEF follow-on spacecraft concept

The successful flight, retrieval, and analyses of the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) experiments demonstrated the value of long duration space exposure for a broad spectrum of science and engineering investigations. The original LDEF was an excellent gravity gradient spacecraft, but because of its 9 m length and 9,700 kg mass it was difficult to manifest on the Shuttle, for either launch or retrieval, in conjunction with other payloads. This paper discusses an LDEF follow-on spacecraft concept whose short stowed length (approximately 3 m) greatly improves Shuttle manifesting opportunities while still providing very large surface area exposure for experiments. Deployable 'wings' on each end of the short, 'cylindrical' main body of this new spacecraft provide the means for gravity gradient stabilization while greatly increasing the spacecraft surface area. The center section of the spacecraft is oriented with the end faces of the twelve sided, 4.2 m diameter 'cylinder' perpendicular to the velocity vector thus providing large areas for experiments in both the ram and anti-ram directions as well as additional exposure area around the periphery of the cylinder. When deployed and properly oriented with the Shuttle's Remote Manipulator System (RMS), both wings of the spacecraft are oriented edge on to the direction of motion and lie in the plane which contains the local gravity vector. The relatively thin wings readily accommodate dual side exposure of glass plate stacks for cosmic ray detection. Flat surfaces mounted normal to and on the periphery of the wings provide additional areas in both the ram and anti-ram directions for cosmic dust, micrometeoroid, and orbital debris collection free of contamination from 'splatter' off secondary surfaces. The baseline concept provides enhancements not available on the original LDEF such as solar array generated electrical power and data telemetry. Status of the efforts to promote support for and ultimately space flight of this concept will be presented. Suggestions for improvements in the spacecraft design and proposed utilization are solicited.

Keller, Vernon↗

DEVELOPMENT OF STABLE ANODE AND CATHODE MATERIALS FOR RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES

Batteries have been employed in a variety of applications, such as portable electronics, electric vehicles (EVs), and stationary energy storage to preserve energy from other renewable sources (like wind or solar energy). The ultimate goal is to develop high energy density, long life span, better safety, and low cost of the batteries. However, current commercialized batteries (like lead-acid, zinc-alkaline, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs)) could not fulfill all the demands of diversified applications. LIBs predominate the market because of their high energy density. To achieve a higher capacity of the cell, high-nickel layered (Ni > 90%) cathode materials are promising candidates since they compose high specific capacity and discharge voltage. In chapter 1, an introduction to cell energy density and the development of high-nickel layered cathode materials along with associated obstacles of poor cycling stability and thermal stability have been discussed. Associated works like doping or surface coating have also been mentioned in this section. In chapter 2, Al doping in high-nickel layered cathode materials to enhance the structural and thermal stability was introduced. Uniform incorporation of Al doping is achieved by mechanical fusion and calcination processes. The Al doping not only decreased the Li/Ni mixing ratio but also enhance the thermal resistance to oxygen evolution because of strong Al-O bonding, which leads to elevated electrochemical and thermal stability. In chapter 3, TiN is implemented as a Ti dopant for high-nickel layered cathode materials to improve the electrochemical performance in the LIBs. The Ti not only diffused within the bulk structure but also formed segregation on the surface, which improved the structural stability and led to better cycling performance. Although LIBs deliver high energy density, safety concerns of flammable organic electrolytes have not been resolved yet. Therefore, the aqueous rechargeable zinc-ion batteries (ZIB) have been praised for their safe, low-cost, eco-friendly stationary energy storage, which is considered as a complementary system to LIBs. In chapter 4, the mechanism, advantages, and challenges of ZIBs would be given and the strategies for solving the zinc metal anode issues have been discussed in this section. In chapter 5, a polymer coating method was reported to facilitate Zn deposition/ stripping by coordination with Zn2+ and prevented direct contact with aqueous electrolyte to block corrosion side-reactions. With this coating, a boost in a lifetime (up to 400 hours) and lower polarization under extremely high current conditions (10 mA cm-2) have been achieved in repeated Zn deposition/ stripping cycling.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Evolving nucleotide binding surfaces

An analysis is presented of the stability and nature of binding of a nucleotide to several known dehydrogenases. The employed approach includes calculation of hydrophobic stabilization of the binding motif and its intermolecular interaction with the ligand. The evolutionary changes of the binding motif are studied by calculating the Euclidean deviation of the respective dehydrogenases. Attention is given to the possible structural elements involved in the origin of nucleotide recognition by non-coded primordial polypeptides.

Kieber-Emmons, T.↗

Unified Formulation of the Aeroelasticity of Swept Lifting Surfaces

An unified approach for dealing with stability and aeroelastic response to time-dependent pressure pulses of swept wings in an incompressible flow is developed. To this end the indicial function concept in time and frequency domains, enabling one to derive the proper unsteady aerodynamic loads is used. Results regarding stability in the frequency and time domains, and subcritical aeroelastic response to arbitrary time-dependent external excitation obtained via the direct use of the unsteady aerodynamic derivatives for 3-D wings are supplied. Closed form expressions for unsteady aerodynamic derivatives using this unified approach have been derived and used to illustrate their application to flutter and aeroelastic response to blast and sonic-boom signatures. In this context, an original representation of the aeroelastic response in the phase space was presented and pertinent conclusions on the implications of some basic parameters have been outlined.

Silva, Walter↗

Enzymatic depolymerization of polyester: Foaming as a pretreatment to increase specific surface area

Abstract Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is widely used for its high strength‐to‐weight ratio, gas barrier properties, and chemical resistance. The growing PET use highlights the demand for a better recycling system. Enzymatic recycling, alongside mechanical and chemical methods, is eco‐friendly and yields properties similar to virgin PET. Substrate properties ( T g , crystallinity, and specific surface area [SSA]) and enzyme stability significantly impact conversion efficiency. Higher SSA and lower crystallinity tend to yield improved depolymerization when employing leaf compost‐cutinase (LCC‐ICCG) enzymes. This study explored melt extrusion and foaming as pretreatment techniques to modify PET structural properties, using a low‐cost chemical foaming agent (CFA). The monomer conversion rate and efficiency during depolymerization were measured and related to the processing, extrudate micro‐ and meso‐structure, and polyester type. Pretreated PET substrates showed reduced T g , crystallinity, density, and enhanced SSA, resulting in a 90% mass loss for foamed RPET and VPET substrates within 2 days. In contrast, PET with ~30% of cyclohexanedimethanol comonomer exhibited a nearly 50% lower depolymerization rate, with zero BHET production. It indicates that the combination of low crystallinity, low T g , and high SSA leads to improved monomer conversion. These findings emphasize the significance of amorphization and foaming in enhancing PET enzymatic depolymerization.

42 ENGINEERING↗

The Response of the North American Monsoon to Increased Greenhouse Gas Forcing

[1] We analyze the response of the North American Monsoon (NAM) to increased greenhouse gas (GHG) forcing (emissions scenario RCP 8.5) using new simulations available through the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project version 5 (CMIP5). Changes in total monsoon season rainfall with GHG warming are small and insignificant. The models do, however, show significant declines in early monsoon season precipitation (June-July) and increases in late monsoon season (September-October) precipitation, indicating a shift in seasonality toward delayed onset and withdrawal of the monsoon. Early in the monsoon season, tropospheric warming increases vertical stability, reinforced by reductions in available surface moisture, inhibiting precipitation and delaying the onset of the monsoon. By the end of the monsoon season, moisture convergence is sufficient to overcome the warming induced stability increases, and precipitation is enhanced. Even with no change in total NAM rainfall, shifts in the seasonal distribution of precipitation within the NAM region are still likely to have significant societal and ecological consequences, reinforcing the need to not only understand the magnitude, but also the timing, of future precipitation changes.

rain↗

Consequences of Intrapore Liquids on Reactivity, Selectivity, and Stability for Aldol Condensation Reactions on Anatase TiO 2 Catalysts

Abstract This study provides evidence and mechanistic interpretations for the significant consequences of intrapore non‐polar liquids on acetone aldol condensation turnover rates, selectivity to primary dimer products, and catalyst stability for reactions at Lewis acid‐base site pairs on TiO 2 surfaces. These non‐polar liquids confer such benefits through the preferential stabilization of transition states (TS) for adsorption (“entry”) and desorption (“exit”) steps, which place their respective reactants or products within a solvating outer sphere environment. The extent to which non‐polar fluids ( n ‐heptane) form an intrapore liquid phase within TiO 2 voids was obtained from N 2 uptakes using established formalisms that consider the different molal volume, surface tension, and volatility between N 2 and n ‐heptane. Acetone condensation rates are limited by C−H activation, an “entry” step that forms bound prop‐1‐en‐2‐olates via a TS stabilized by intrapore liquids, leading to higher aldol condensation turnover rates as n ‐heptane pressure increases and active TiO 2 surfaces become increasingly immersed within a non‐polar liquid phase. These liquids solvate the late TS structures that mediate the desorption of primary C 6 condensation products even more effectively than those involved in prop‐1‐en‐2‐olate formation or in nucleophilic attack events that later form C−C bonds. Such preferential solvation favors desorption over C−C coupling events, thus disfavoring the formation of larger oligomers that become stranded at active sites, thus leading to much slower deactivation. Moreover, solvation by non‐polar liquids also leads to C 6 alkanones as the sole products formed in a single surface sojourn. These effects of a non‐polar dense phase circumvent the inherent stability, reactivity, and selectivity hurdles that have precluded practical aldol condensation catalysis on Lewis acid‐base pairs at oxide surfaces; these consequences are demonstrated here for TiO 2 catalysts, acetone aldol condensation reactions, and n ‐heptane as the non‐polar liquid but through strategies, concepts, and mechanistic features that extend to other systems. More generally, these observations and their mechanistic origins demonstrate how a contacting liquid preferentially solvates TS structures for elementary steps that involve either reactants arriving from or products entering into an outer sphere environment that contains a dense non‐polar phase.

Kadam, Shashikant A.↗

Enhancement of the Extraction of Uranium from Seawater

Due to the limited uranium resources available for recovery through mining and ore processing and to the environmental problems associated with these operations, the future of nuclear power depends, to a large extent, on the feasibility of recovery of uranium from the ocean. While the amounts of uranium in the ocean are sufficient to fulfill the nuclear industry for many thousands of years, recovery of uranium from the ocean is hampered by its low concentration (3.3 parts per billion) and the presence of many other solutes in seawater at comparable or much higher concentrations. Thus, the only hope for economically viable recovery of uranium from the ocean lies in the development of adsorbents with high capacity and high selectivity for uranium as present in the seawater environment (pH 8.1, U(VI) oxidation state, anionic carbonate complexes). Moreover, it is quite unlikely that economically viable recovery of uranium could be achieved if the adsorbent could be used only once. Thus it is essential to develop adsorbents that can be used through multiple cycles of uranium adsorption followed by elution of the uranium to regenerate the adsorbent without significant degradation of their capacity and selectivity for uranium. Adsorbents used in the large majority of studies aimed at recovery of uranium from seawater are based on the use of radiation grafting to produce polymeric supports, in particular polyethylene, with attached amidoxime groups. This configuration has been concluded to offer the best candidate for use in recovery based on studies which were performed in the early 1980’s. Substantial progress has been made in improving the amidoxime-based adsorbents. The basic approach undertaken by the authors of the proposal, on the other hand, has been to test ligands which have not been included in the scoping studies of the 1980’s or have been developed since then. So far, 18 such ligands have been tested, of which three, including B2MP (an organic phosphate), DAOx (an organic oxalate), and Br-PADAP (an azo compound) have been selected for further investigation. In addition, Winged Nylon 6 has been identified as a promising polymeric support in view of its large surface area and high chemical stability. Furthermore, improved grafting techniques intended to achieve high grafting density under “green chemistry” conditions, i.e., in aqueous media, have been developed. These techniques include the use of surfactants to enhance the solubility of ligands in water and the use of a homopolymerization inhibitor to promote grafting rather than homopolymerization. Furthermore, unlike amidoxime-based adsorbents, which require a chemical treatment step following the radiation grafting to convert a nitrile group to amidoxime, the adsorbents developed by the authors do not require an additional step after grafting. Highly effective regeneration has been demonstrated for the phosphate-grafted polymeric adsorbent over at least 21 adsorption/elution cycles without significant loss of capacity. The currently proposed study is intended to build upon the progress made so far in developing alternative systems for removal of uranium from seawater. It will focus on the following objectives: Continued searches will be conducted for high-capacity, high-selectivity ligands based on systematic characterization of structural features favorable to uranium adsorption. (For instance, phosphates have been found to be much more effective than the corresponding phosphonates). At the same time, development and testing of the three ligands selected so far will continue, focusing on issues such as high grafting densities and effective regeneration. Testing will be conducted in non-spiked sweater (3.3 µg/L U) and lightly spiked seawater (up to 10 µg/L U). The authors have recently been able to refurbish an ICP-MS spectrometer for this purpose. Improved grafting techniques will be developed and refined for specific ligands. These techniques will include the use of surfactants to allow grafting of ligands with low solubility in water, the use of homopolymerization inhibitors, modifying the chemical structure of ligands to introduce C=C bonds, investigating possible modification of the surface of the polymeric support, and mechanistic analysis of the effects of grafting conditions, in particular accumulated dose and dose rate. Improvements in the characterization of adsorbents before and after contact with seawater will be implemented using techniques such as XPS, SEM-EDS, and zeta potential measurements to investigate the mechanism of uranium adsorption. Effective techniques of multi-cycle regeneration of promising adsorbents without degradation of their performance will be developed and refined through testing of mild, preferably near-neutral eluant solutions. The kinetics of adsorption and desorption of uranium will be investigated. This study is of great operational value and it will also greatly contribute to improved understanding of adsorption/desorption mechanism on promising adsorbents.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Fabrication of highly efficient carbon coated exfoliated tungsten disulfide nanosheets core-shell nanostructure as a promising solar-light driven photocatalyst

Highlights: • Investigated the benefits of exfoliation mechanism of WS{sub 2} nanosheets. • C@e-WS{sub 2} was successfully synthesized via two step exfoliation -hydrothermal process. • C@e-WS{sub 2} core-shell confirmed by HRTEM. • C@e-WS{sub 2} core-shell photocatalyst exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity. • Photodegradation mechanism of C@e-WS{sub 2} photocatalyst is elucidated and discussed. - Abstract: Exfoliated Tungsten disulfide (e-WS{sub 2}) nanosheets were obtained from bulk Tungsten disulfide (WS{sub 2}) in a liquid-phase ultrasonic exfoliation method using a DMF solvent. Core-shell mannered carbon coating was developed by hydrothermal process on exfoliated Tungsten disulfide (e-WS{sub 2}) to enhance the efficient charge separation, specific surface area with mesoporosity and stability for chemical processes and mechanical strains. The carbon coated e-WS{sub 2} nanosheets (C@e-WS{sub 2}) was performed by series of characterization techniques and explored to the photocatalytic degradation of malachite green (MG) dye by comparing with bulk WS{sub 2} and e-WS{sub 2}. Among all the photocatalysts highest performance was observed for the C@e-WS{sub 2}. C@e-WS{sub 2} catalyst displays more than 11 fold enhancements in the photocomposition rate of MG over bulk WS{sub 2} and nearly 8 fold improvements over e-WS{sub 2} for 90 min irradiation. In addition, for complete degradation of MG dye over the bulk WS{sub 2}, e-WS{sub 2}, and C@e-WS{sub 2} catalysts were observed at 150, 130, and 90 min under simulated solar light irradiation. The results obtained using core-shell mannered C@e-WS{sub 2} are stepping stone for developing cost-effective and noble metal-free catalysts for photodegradation.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

The Relative Importance of Forced and Unforced Temperature Patterns in Driving the Time Variation of Low-Cloud Feedback

Abstract Atmospheric models forced with observed sea surface temperatures (SSTs) suggest a trend toward a more-stabilizing cloud feedback in recent decades, partly due to the surface cooling trend in the eastern Pacific (EP) and the warming trend in the western Pacific (WP). Here, we show model evidence that the low-cloud feedback has contributions from both forced and unforced feedback components and that its time variation arises in large part through changes in the relative importance of the two over time, rather than through variations in forced or unforced feedbacks themselves. Initial-condition large ensembles (LEs) suggest that the SST patterns are dominated by unforced variations for 30-yr windows ending prior to the 1980s. In general, unforced SSTs are representative of an ENSO-like pattern, which corresponds to weak low-level stability in the tropics and less-stabilizing low-cloud feedback. Since the 1980s, the forced signals have become stronger, outweighing the unforced signals for the 30-yr windows ending after the 2010s. Forced SSTs are characterized by relatively uniform warming with an enhancement in the WP, corresponding to a more-stabilizing low-cloud feedback in most cases. The time-evolving SST pattern due to this increasing importance of forced signals is the dominant contributor to the recent stabilizing shift of low-cloud feedback in the LEs. Using single-forcing LEs, we further find that if only greenhouse gases evolve with time, the transition to the domination of forced signals occurs 10–20 years earlier compared to the LEs with full forcings, which can be understood through the compensating effect between aerosols and greenhouse gases.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

High-emissivity, thermally robust emitters for high power density thermophotovoltaics

Thermal radiative energy transport is essential for high-temperature energy harvesting technologies, including thermophotovoltaics (TPVs) and grid-scale thermal energy storage. However, the inherently low emissivity of conventional high-temperature materials constrains radiative energy transfer, thereby limiting system performance and technoeconomic viability. Here, in this study, we demonstrate ultrafast femtosecond laser-material interactions to transform diverse materials into near-blackbody surfaces with broadband spectral emissivity above 0.96. This enhancement arises from hierarchically engineered light-trapping microstructures enriched with nanoscale features, effectively decoupling surface optical properties from bulk thermomechanical properties. These laser-blackened surfaces (LaBS) exhibit exceptional thermal stability, retaining high emissivity for over 100 h at temperatures exceeding 1,000°C, even in oxidizing environments. When applied as TPV thermal emitters, Ta LaBS double electrical power output from 2.19 to 4.10 W cm −2 at 2,200°C while sustaining TPV conversion efficiencies above 30%. This versatile, largely material-independent technique offers a scalable and economically viable pathway to enhance emissivity for advanced thermal energy applications.

laser-blackened surfaces↗

Strategies of Healthy Adults Walking on a Laterally Oscillating Treadmill

We mounted a treadmill on top of a six degree-of-freedom motion base platform to investigate locomotor responses produced by healthy adults introduced to a dynamic walking surface. The experiment examined self-selected strategies employed by participants when exposed to continuous, sinusoidal lateral motion of the support surface while walking. Torso translation and step width were used to classify responses used to stabilize gait in a novel, dynamic environment. Two response categories emerged. Participants tended to either fix themselves in space (FIS), allowing the treadbelt to move laterally beneath them, or they fixed themselves to the base (FTB), moving laterally as the motion base oscillated. The degree of fixation in both extremes varied across participants. This finding suggests that normal adults have innate and varied preferences for reacquiring gait stability, some depending more heavily on vision (FIS group) and others on proprioception (FTB group). Keywords: Human locomotion, Unstable surface, Treadmill, Adaptation, Stability

Brady, Rachel A.↗

How machine learning can help select capping layers to suppress perovskite degradation

Environmental stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has been improved by trial-and-error exploration of thin low-dimensional (LD) perovskite deposited on top of the perovskite absorber, called the capping layer. In this study, a machine-learning framework is presented to optimize this layer. We featurize 21 organic halide salts, apply them as capping layers onto methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI 3 ) films, age them under accelerated conditions, and determine features governing stability using supervised machine learning and Shapley values. We find that organic molecules’ low number of hydrogen-bonding donors and small topological polar surface area correlate with increased MAPbI 3 film stability. The top performing organic halide, phenyltriethylammonium iodide (PTEAI), successfully extends the MAPbI3 stability lifetime by 4 ± 2 times over bare MAPbI 3 and 1.3 ± 0.3 times over state-of-the-art octylammonium bromide (OABr). Through characterization, we find that this capping layer stabilizes the photoactive layer by changing the surface chemistry and suppressing methylammonium loss.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Control and Simulation of a Deployable Entry Vehicle with Aerodynamic Control Surfaces

In this paper, we investigate the static stability of a deployable entry vehicle called the Lifting Nano-ADEPT and design a control system to follow bank angle, angle-of-attack, and sideslip guidance commands. The control design, based on linear quadratic regulator optimal techniques, utilizes aerodynamic control surfaces to track angle-of-attack, sideslip angle, and bank angle commands. We demonstrate, using a nonlinear simulation environment, that the controller is able to accurately track step commands that may come from a guidance algorithm.

Margolis, Benjamin W. L.↗