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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2020

Climate and Anthropogenic Controls on Blue Carbon Sequestration in Hudson River Tidal Marsh, Piermont, New York

Tidal marshes globally are experiencing erosion with sea level rise. In order to adaptively plan for essential marsh preservation, we recognize the importance of the investigation of marsh archives for the perspective they provide toward resilience. Our objective in this study is to examine the relationship of tidal marsh carbon sequestration with both climate change and human impact throughout past centuries and millennia. A Hudson River marsh sediment core spanning the last 2000 years is analyzed for bulk loss on ignition (LOI), bulk density, sedimentation rate, carbon (C) and mineral flux, and x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis including lead, copper, titanium and potassium. We compare this record to previously established pollen and spore stratigraphy from the same site, along with an extensive macrofossil based AMS 14C chronology based upon both cores. Carbon accumulation generally follows sediment accumulation rates, which were higher than 200 g C m−2 yr−1 prior to 1500 years ago. Declines in carbon storage rate during the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) are linked to drought, fire, and charcoal, while lesser declines during the Little Ice Age (LIA) are linked to cooling and a shorter growing season. Subsequent human impact with marsh haying practices also led to carbon accumulation rate decline to 100 g C m−2 yr−1. Increases in C sequestration rates in recent decades may be attributable to nitrogen pollution of the estuary, invasive plants, and/or increased flooding, but the lack of mineral sediment threatens their stability. Ecosystem function is declining with the loss of foundational species, and the crisis is deepening for preservation of this habitat. We strongly recommend strategies for minimizing marsh loss.

Climate controls↗
NASA NTRS1975

Distribution, movement, and evolution of the volatile elements in the lunar regolith

The abundances and distributions of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur in lunar soils are reviewed. Carbon and nitrogen have a predominantly extra-lunar origin in lunar soils and breccias, while sulfur is mostly indigeneous to the moon. The lunar processes which effect the movement, distribution, and evolution of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur, along with the volatile alkali elements sodium, potassium, and rubidium during regolith processes are discussed. Possible mechanisms which may result in the addition to or loss from the moon of these volatile elements are considered.

Gibson, E. K., Jr.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Topsoil bulk geochemical compositions - An updated harmonized global dataset

Mineral weathering is a key biogeochemical process because of the capacity of minerals to stabilize organic matter. However, predicting soil weathering status across large spatial areas still isn’t possible due to a lack of global data and theoretical frameworks. To address this knowledge gap, multiple global datasets of bulk topsoil geochemical compositions have been harmonized using R. These datasets document topsoil bulk geochemical compositions across five continents (n = ~16,000 observations). Source data for these observations include the EuroGEOSurveys Geochemical Baseline Database (FOREGS), the US Geological Survey National Geochemical Database (NASGLP), the Geochemical Atlas of Australia (GAA), the US Geological Survey Alaska Geochemical Database (AGD84), the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS), the European Geochemical Mapping of Agricultural Soil (GEMAS), Ecorespira-Amazon (ERA), the New Zealand Geochemical Baseline Survey (NZ_GBS), and the African Soil Information Service (AFSIS). Major elements observed include Aluminum (Al), Calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Sodium (Na), Titanium (Ti), Manganese (Mn), Phosphorus (P), Carbon (C), and Sulfur (S). This data package includes the harmonized dataset itself, and the R scripts necessary to harmonize these datasets, in addition to metadata that describes all columns, files, and databases used in this project. Methods & Sampling Step 1 – Databases of geochemical data identified This study aimed to leverage existing measurements of topsoil geochemical data. Databases were first identified and deemed appropriate for inclusion if they were measuring soils and performed these measurements on the <2mm soil fraction. Databases such as NCSS and AGD84 needed more post processing to include in the database and this was done using the NCSS_datamerge_031626 R file and Alaska_USGSmerge_031626 R file, respectively. Step 2 – Database harmonization Once appropriate databases were identified, they were harmonized for ease of analysis using the R script Database_Harmonization_031826. This included removing columns from original datasets that would not be used in analysis (removed columns are noted in the code). Then, data cleaning procedures specific to each dataset were undertaken. This includes standardizing columns to include units and adding metadata columns regarding procedures for analyzing specific elements. Functions for standardizing measurements and units are outline in R files: calculate element_mg_kg_031626, calculate_oxide_wt_perc_031626, change_oxide_caps_031626, and conv_2_numeric_031626. This also included adding a unique identifier for each sample to identify it with its respective database (see CD_ID in data dictionary). Geographic information: Data reflect a compilation of datasets collected globally. Geographic areas covered by each of the datasets include: - EuroGEOSurveys Geochemical Baseline Database (FOREGS) - European continent - North American Soil Geochemical Landscapes (NASGLP) - continental United States and limited parts of Canada (see database key for more details) - National Geochemical Survey of Australia (GAA) - Australia - Alaska geochemical database (AGDB4) - Alaska - National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) - Global measurements, but concentrated in the continental United States - Geochemical data for arable land and land under permanent grass cover in continental Europe (GEMAS) - continental Europe - Ecorespira-Amazon (ERA) - Geochemical data from the Amazon basin - Geochemical baseline data for New Zealand (NZGBS) - New Zealand - Geochemical data collected across continental Africa (AfSIS) - Measurements across Africa

EARTH SCIENCE > LAND SURFACE > SOILS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Assessment of BQ-9000 Biodiesel Properties for 2023

This is the seventh in a series of reports documenting the quality of biodiesel from U.S.- and Canadian-based producers that participate in the BQ-9000 program, the biodiesel industry’s voluntary quality assurance program. Participants provided monthly data on critical quality parameters for calendar year 2023 with quality data provided to a team of experts, who removed any identifying company information and provided anonymized data to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for statistical analysis. New for 2023, data on kinematic viscosity, sulfated ash, distillation temperature, carbon residue, and cetane were collected, as well as individual levels of sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Critical quality parameters analyzed are listed in Table ES-1 with descriptive statistics.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Assessment of BQ-9000 Biodiesel Properties for 2024

This is the eighth in a series of reports documenting the quality of biodiesel from U.S.- and Canadian-based producers that participate in the BQ-9000 program, the biodiesel industry's voluntary quality assurance program. Participants provided monthly data on critical quality parameters for calendar year 2024 with quality data provided to a team of experts, who removed any identifying company information and provided anonymized data to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for statistical analysis. Similar to 2023, data on kinematic viscosity, sulfated ash, distillation temperature, carbon residue, and cetane were collected, as well as individual levels of sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
NASA NTRS2003

Distributions of Trace Gases and Aerosols during the Dry Biomass Burning Season in Southern Africa

Vertical profiles in the lower troposphere of temperature, relative humidity, sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), condensation nuclei (CN), and carbon monoxide (CO), and horizontal distributions of twenty gaseous and particulate species, are presented for five regions of southern Africa during the dry biomass burning season of 2000. The regions are the semiarid savannas of northeast South Africa and northern Botswana, the savanna-forest mosaic of coastal Mozambique, the humid savanna of southern Zambia, and the desert of western Namibia. The highest average concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), CO, methane (CH4), O3, black particulate carbon, and total particulate carbon were in the Botswana and Zambia sectors (388 and 392 ppmv, 369 and 453 ppbv, 1753 and 1758 ppbv, 79 and 88 ppbv, 2.6 and 5.5 micrograms /cubic meter and 13.2 and 14.3 micrograms/cubic meter). This was due to intense biomass burning in Zambia and surrounding regions. The South Africa sector had the highest average concentrations of SO2, sulfate particles, and CN (5.1 ppbv, 8.3 micrograms/cubic meter, and per 6400 cubic meter , respectively), which derived from biomass burning and electric generation plants and mining operations within this sector. Air quality in the Mozambique sector was similar to the neighboring South Africa sector. Over the arid Namibia sector there were polluted layers aloft, in which average SO2, O3, and CO mixing ratios (1.2 ppbv, 76 ppbv, and 3 10 ppbv, respectively) were similar to those measured over the other more polluted sectors. This was due to transport of biomass smoke from regions of widespread savanna burning in southern Angola. Average concentrations over all sectors of CO2 (386 +/- 8 ppmv), CO (261 +/- 81 ppbv), SO2 (2.5 +/- 1.6 ppbv), O3 (64 +/- 13 ppbv), black particulate carbon (2.3 +/- 1.9 microgram/cubic meter), organic particulate carbon (6.2 +/- 5.2 microgram/cubic meter), total particle mass (26.0 +/- 4.7 microgram/cubic meter), and potassium particles (0.4 +- 0.1 microgram/cubic meter) were comparable to those in polluted, urban air. Since the majority of the measurements in this study were obtained in locations well removed from industrial sources of pollution, the high average concentrations of pollutants reflect the effects of widespread biomass burning. On occasions, relatively thin (-0.5 km) layers of remarkably clean air were located at -3 km above mean sea level, sandwiched between heavily polluted air. The data presented here can be used for inputs to and validation of regional and global atmospheric chemical models.

Sinha, Parikhit↗
DOE OSTI2022

Process for making manganese dioxide and its polymorphs reversible

A method of forming a layered manganese dioxide for use in a cathode of a battery comprises disposing a cathode into a housing of an electrochemical cell, disposing an anode into the housing, disposing a polymeric separator between the anode and the cathode such that the anode and the cathode are electrically separated, adding an alkaline electrolyte to the housing, cycling the electrochemical cell into the 2nd electron capacity of the manganese dioxide, and forming a layered manganese dioxide having a layered manganese dioxide structure with the one or more additives incorporated into the layered manganese dioxide structure. The cathode comprising a cathode material comprising: a manganese dioxide compound, one or more additives selected from the group consisting of bismuth, copper, tin, lead, silver, cobalt, nickel, magnesium, aluminum, potassium, lithium, calcium, gold, antimony, iron, zinc, and combinations thereof, and a conductive carbon.

Yadav, Gautam G.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Understanding Europium and Terbium Speciation and Ion Pairing in Carbonate Complexes Using Advanced Spectroscopy Techniques

Lanthanide (Ln) elements are critical materials that are typically extracted/mined together. Their separation by solvent extraction from acidic media is well known; however, there are few studies in basic media with carbonate anions. We investigated the complexation of Eu(III) and Tb(III) carbonates as solids and solutions in alkaline K2CO3, wherein we sought to access a Tb(IV) carbonate complex through ozonolysis. L3-edge XANES of Eu and Tb carbonate solids, colorless solutions, and a red-hued Tb solution (obtained by ozonolysis) all showed Ln(III) cations. The absence of evidence for a Tb(IV) complex was confirmed through XAS and EPR analyses, despite the solution exhibiting a deep red color. For solids and solutions, EXAFS results indicate molecular Ln(III)-carbonato anions. In terms of the Eu(III) carbonate coordination number, the coordination does not change upon dissolution of the solid sample. Furthermore, EXAFS for the solutions revealed evidence for the association of potassium cations with the Ln(III)-carbonato anions. Furthermore, this direct observation of contact ion pairing by EXAFS at room temperature is rare. The insights into Ln(III) carbonate complexation and solution speciation afforded by XANES-EXAFS, FT-IR, and EPR provides perspectives that serve as benchmarks for future computational and experimental efforts focused on caustic-side solvent extraction of Ln(III) ions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

High mass loading potassium ion stabilized manganese dioxide nanowire forests for rechargeable Zn batteries

Manganese dioxide (MnO 2 ) represents an ideal cathode material for rechargeable aqueous Zn batteries due to its high theoretical capacity (308 mAh g -1 ), suitable potential (1.4 V vs. Zn 2+ /Zn), natural abundance, and negligible toxicity. However, the capacity and rate capability of MnO 2 deteriorate significantly in thick electrodes owing to its low electrical and ionic conductivities. Herein, we report the design of high mass loading potassium ion stabilized α-MnO 2 (K 0.133 MnO 2 ) nanowire forests on carbon cloth through a seed-assisted hydrothermal method for Zn batteries. Further, the vertically aligned K 0.133 MnO 2 nanowire forests with uninterrupted charge transport afford a high area capacity of 3.54 mAh cm -2 and a capacity retention of 79.2% over 1000 cycles in aqueous electrolyte. Moreover, the high area capacity and cyclability can be readily transferred to quasi-solid-state devices.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
NASA NTRS1967

Development of low temperature battery

Self-contained low temperature battery system consisting of a magnesium anode, potassium thiocyanate-ammonia electrolyte and a cathode composed of a mixture of sulfur, carbon, and mercuric sulfate operates for at least seventy-two hours within a discharge temperature range of plus 20 degrees C to minus 90 degrees C.

Armstrong, G. M.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Influence of Potassium Metal‐Support Interactions on Dendrite Growth

Abstract Combined synchrotron X‐ray nanotomography imaging, cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo‐EM) and modeling elucidate how potassium (K) metal‐support energetics influence electrodeposit microstructure. Three model supports are employed: O‐functionalized carbon cloth (potassiophilic, fully‐wetted), non‐functionalized cloth and Cu foil (potassiophobic, nonwetted). Nanotomography and focused ion beam (cryo‐FIB) cross‐sections yield complementary three‐dimensional (3D) maps of cycled electrodeposits. Electrodeposit on potassiophobic support is a triphasic sponge, with fibrous dendrites covered by solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and interspersed with nanopores (sub‐10 nm to 100 nm scale). Lage cracks and voids are also a key feature. On potassiophilic support, the deposit is dense and pore‐free, with uniform surface and SEI morphology. Mesoscale modeling captures the critical role of substrate‐metal interaction on K metal film nucleation and growth, as well as the associated stress state.

Liu, Pengcheng↗
NASA NTRS1977

On the origin of biological chirality via natural beta-decay

An hypothesis to account for the chirality (handedness) of some biological molecules is given. Experimental evidence suggests that longitudinally polarized electrons having the chirality of terrestrial beta-decay electrons remove dextro-leucine from a racemic mixture. If, by a similar mechanism, the terrestrial environment provided more levo- than dextro-amino acids, that would account for the chirality now observed in organic molecules. An isotope of potassium has been proposed as the natural beta-emitter responsible for biomolecular chirality; however, Carbon 14 may be an even more plausible candidate. Ready availability of the carbon isotope in the terrestrial environment of 4.5 aeons ago, and the role of leucine in protein synthesis indicate that these two agents may have been chief factors in the evolution of biomolecular chirality. Suggestions for further research in this area are made.

Noyes, H. P.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Molten salt compositions with enhanced heat transfer and reduced corrosion properties

A heat transfer (exchange) composition comprising a halide salt matrix having dispersed therein nanoparticles comprising elemental carbon in the absence of water and surfactants, wherein said halide is fluoride or chloride, wherein the halide salt may be an alkali halide salt (e.g., lithium fluoride, sodium fluoride, potassium fluoride, rubidium fluoride, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, rubidium chloride, and eutectic mixtures thereof) or an alkaline earth halide salt (e.g., fluoride or chloride salt of beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, or barium), and wherein the nanoparticles comprising elemental carbon may be solid or hollow, and wherein the composition may further include nanoparticles comprising a fissile material (e.g., U, Th, or Pu) dispersed within the composition. Molten salt reactors (MSRs) containing these heat transfer compositions in coolant loops in thermal exchange with a reactor core, as well operation of such MSRs, are also described.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Influence of Potassium Metal-Support Interactions on Dendrite Growth

We report combined synchrotron X-ray nanotomography imaging, cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and modeling elucidate how potassium (K) metal-support energetics influence electrodeposit microstructure. Three model supports are employed: O-functionalized carbon cloth (potassiophilic, fully-wetted), non-functionalized cloth and Cu foil (potassiophobic, nonwetted). Nanotomography and focused ion beam (cryo-FIB) cross-sections yield complementary three-dimensional (3D) maps of cycled electrodeposits. Electrodeposit on potassiophobic support is a triphasic sponge, with fibrous dendrites covered by solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and interspersed with nanopores (sub-10 nm to 100 nm scale). Lage cracks and voids are also a key feature. On potassiophilic support, the deposit is dense and pore-free, with uniform surface and SEI morphology. Mesoscale modeling captures the critical role of substrate-metal interaction on K metal film nucleation and growth, as well as the associated stress state.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Graphitization of banana peel – synergistic effect of Ca and other elements of the biomass on carbon structure transformation

Recently, growing interest has been observed in using calcium as an effective catalyst for graphitizing disordered carbon materials derived from biomass and bioprecursors, such as cellulose and lignin, at relatively low tem peratures (<2000 °C). Herein, it is demonstrated that in the presence of elements such as calcium, silicon, sulfur, and potassium, which are abundant in banana peel composed of cellulose and lignin base, graphitization occurs much more effectively. The addition of external calcium source, in the form of calcium carbonate, to the banana peel-derived carbon and heat-treatment of the mixture under protective atmosphere up to 1750 °C results in a significant increase in the degree of the graphitization order and local formation of graphite crystals, whereas the same preparation and heat-treatment procedure applied to carbon material derived from pristine cellulose does not lead to such effective graphitization. It is indicated that the graphitization of banana peel carbon occurs due to the synergistic effect of the external Ca-based catalyst and the internal elements present in the raw biomass, supporting the transformation of the disordered graphene-like layers into graphitic structures. These findings are important for the future production of green graphite from biomass

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Soil properties and root characteristics across four lowland Panamanian forests from 0 - 1 m soil depths

Objectives:Fine roots significantly influence ecosystem-scale cycling of nutrients, carbon (C), and water, yet there is limited understanding of how fine root traits vary across and within tropical forests, some of Earth's most C-rich ecosystems. The biomass of fine roots can impact soil carbon storage, as root mortality is a primary source of new carbon to soils. A positive relationship has been observed between fine root biomass and soil carbon stocks in Panama (Cusack et al 2018). Beyond biomass, root characteristics like specific root length (SRL) could also influence soil carbon, as roots with higher SRL are less dense and thinner, potentially decomposing more easily or promoting soil aggregation. Understanding the effects of root morphology and tissue quality on soil carbon storage and with soil properties in general can improve predictions of landscape-scale carbon patterns. We aggregated new data of root biomass, morphology and nutrient content at 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, 20-50 cm and 50-100 cm depth increments across four distinct lowland Panamanian forests and paired with already published datasets (Cusack et al 2018; Cusack and Turner 2020) of soil chemistry from the same sites and soil depths to explore relationship between soil carbon stocks and root characteristics.Datasets included:The datasets provided include .csv and .xlsx files for fine root characteristics and soil chemistry from four different forests across 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, 20-50 cm, and 50-100 cm depth increments. Root characteristics include live fine root biomass, dead fine root biomass, coarse root biomass, specific root length, root diameter, root tissue density, specific root area, root %N, root %C, and root C/N ratio. Soil chemistry data includes total carbon (TC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), bulk density, total phosphorus (TP), available phosphorus (AEM Pi), and various Mehlich-extractable elements such as aluminum, calcium, iron, potassium, manganese, phosphorus, and zinc. Nitrogen content measures include ammonium, nitrate, total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON). The dataset also includes total exchangeable bases (TEB) and effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) in both centimoles of charge per kilogram and micromoles of charge per gram. The soil chemistry data was obtained from Cusack et al (2018) and Cusack and Turner (2020) and paired with root characteristics data for the same depth increments and sites. Additionally, a .kml file is provided with coordinates for all 32 plots included in the study across four forests (n = 8 plots per site). Root data was averaged across these 8 plots per site and soil data was collected in one pit in each site. This dataset serves as baseline data before a throughfall exclusion experiment, Panama Rainforest Changes with Experimental Drying (PARCHED), was implemented. No special software is needed to open these files.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1985

The use of superoxide mixtures as air-revitalization chemicals in hyperbaric, self-contained, closed-circuit breathing apparatus

In portable breathing apparatus applications at 1 atm, potassium superoxide (KO2) has exhibited low-utilization efficiency of the available oxygen (O2) and diminished carbon dioxide-(CO2) scrubbing capacity caused by the formation of a fused, hydrated-hydroxide/carbonate product coating on the superoxide granules. In earlier work, it was discovered that granules fabricated from an intimate mixture of KO2 and calcium superoxide, Ca(O2)2, did not exhibit formation of a fused product coating and the utilization efficiency with respect to both O2 release and CO2 absorption was superior to KO2 granules when both types of granules were reacted with humidified CO2 under identified conditions. In the work described here, single pellets of KO2, KO2/Ca(O2), mixtures and commercially available KO2 tables and granules were reacted with a flow of humidified CO2 in helium at 1- and 10-atm total pressure and at an initial temperature of 40 C. In the 1-atm flow tests, the reaction rates and utilization efficiency of the KO2/Ca(O2)2 pellets were markedly superior to the KO2 pellets, tablets, and granules when the samples were reacted under identical conditions. However, at 10 atm, the rates of O2 release and CO2 absorption, as well as the utilization efficiencies of all the superoxide samples, were one-third to one-eighth of the values observed at 1 atm. The decrease in reaction performance at 10 atm compared to that at 1 atm has been attributed principally to the lower bulk diffusivity of the CO2 and H2O reactants in helium at the higher pressure and secondarily to the moderation of the reaction temperature caused by the higher heat capacity of the 10-atm helium.

Wood, P. C.↗
DOE OSTI2022

The status and prospects of materials for carbon capture technologies

In order to combat climate change, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions from industry, transportation, buildings, and other sources need to be captured and long-term stored. Decarbonization of these sources requires special types of materials that have high affinities for CO 2 . Potassium hydroxide is a benchmark aqueous sorbent that reacts with CO 2 to convert it into K 2 CO 3 and subsequently precipitated as CaCO 3 . Another class of carbon capture materials is solid sorbents that are usually functionalized with amines or have natural affinities for CO 2 . The next wave of materials for carbon capture under investigation includes activated carbon, metal–organic frameworks, zeolites, carbon nanotubes, and ionic liquids. In this issue of MRS Bulletin, some of these materials are highlighted, including solvents and sorbents, membranes, ionic liquids, and hydrides. Other materials that can capture CO2 from low concentrations of gas streams, such as air (direct air capture) are also discussed. Also covered in this issue are machine learning-based computer algorithms developed with the goal to speed up the progress of carbon capture materials development, and to design advanced materials with high CO 2 capacity, improved capture and release kinetics, and improved cyclic durability.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗