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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
DOE OSTI2022

Discovery of LaAlO 3 as an efficient catalyst for two-electron water electrolysis towards hydrogen peroxide

Electrochemical two-electron water oxidation reaction (2e-WOR) has drawn significant attention as a promising process to achieve the continuous on-site production of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). However, compared to the cathodic H 2 O 2 generation, the anodic 2e-WOR is more challenging to establish catalysts due to the severe oxidizing environment. In this study, we combine density functional theory (DFT) calculations with experiments to discover a stable and efficient perovskite catalyst for the anodic 2e-WOR. Our theoretical screening efforts identify LaAlO 3 perovskite as a stable, active, and selective candidate for catalyzing 2e-WOR. Our experimental results verify that LaAlO 3 achieves an overpotential of 510 mV at 10 mA cm -2 in 4 M K 2 CO 3 /KHCO 3 , lower than those of many reported metal oxide catalysts. In addition, LaAlO 3 maintains a stable H 2 O 2 Faradaic efficiency with only a 3% decrease after 3 h at 2.7 V vs. RHE. This computation-experiment synergistic approach introduces another effective direction to discover promising catalysts for the harsh anodic 2e-WOR towards H 2 O 2 .

08 HYDROGEN↗
NASA NTRS2004

Zeolite Formation and Weathering Processes in Dry Valleys of Antartica: Martian Analogs

Terrestrial weathering processes in cold-desert climates such as the Dry Valleys of Antarctica may provide an excellent analog to chemical weathering and diagenesis of soils on Mars. Detailed studies of soil development and the chemical and mineralogical alterations occurring within soil columns in Wright Valley, Antarctica show incredible complexity in the upper meter of soil. Previous workers noted the ice-free Dry Valleys are the best terrestrial approximations to contemporary Mars. Images returned from the Pathfinder and Spirit landers show similarities to surfaces observed within the Dry Valleys. Similarities to Mars that exist in these valleys are: mean temperatures always below freezing (-20 C), no rainfall, sparse snowfall-rapidly removed by sublimation, desiccating winds, diurnal freeze-thaw cycles (even during daylight hours), low humidity, oxidative environment, relatively high solar radiation and low magnetic fields . The Dry Valley soils contain irregular distributions and low abundances of soil microorganisms that are somewhat unusual on Earth. Physical processes-such as sand abrasion-are dominant mechanisms of rock weathering in Antarctica. However, chemical weathering is also an important process even in such extreme climates. For example, ionic migration occurs even in frozen soils along liquid films on individual soil particles. It has also been shown that water with liquid-like properties is present in soils at temperatures on the order of approx.-80 C and it has been observed that the percentage of oxidized iron increases with increasing soil age and enrichments in oxidized iron occurs toward the surface. The presence of evaporates is evident and appear similar to "evaporite sites" within the Pathfinder and Spirit sites. Evaporites indicate ionic migration and chemical activity even in the permanently frozen zone. The presence of evaporates indicates that chemical weathering of rocks and possibly soils has been active. Authogenic zeolites have been identified within the soil columns because they are fragile; i.e. they are euhedral, unabraded, and unfractured, strongly suggesting in situ formation. Their presence in Antarctic samples is another indication that diagenic processes are active in cold-desert environments. The presence of zeolites, and other clays along with halites, sulfates, carbonates, and hydrates are to be expected within the soil columns on Mars at the Gusev and Isidis Planitia regions. The presence of such water-bearing minerals beneath the surface supplies one of the requirements to support biological activity on Mars.

Gibson, E. K., Jr.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Molecular structure and catalytic promotional effect of Mn on supported Na 2 WO 4 /SiO 2 catalysts for oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reaction

The structure and promotional effect of Mn in supported Mn-Na 2 WO 4 /SiO 2 catalysts for the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reaction has been debated for a longtime in the literature. In the current investigation, with the aid of multiple in-situ characterization studies, we show that the freshly calcined supported 1.2Mn-5Na 2 WO 4 /SiO 2 catalyst possesses crystalline Na 2 WO 4 , Mn 2 O 3 and SiO 2 (cristobalite phase) along with surface MnO x and Na-WO x sites at low temperature and oxidizing environments. Under the OCM reaction environment (T>800°C), the crystalline Na 2 WO 4 phase melts and Mn 2 O 3 phase reduces. In contrast, the surface MnO x and Na-WO x sites exhibit excellent thermal and chemical stability. Exposure of the 1.2Mn-5Na 2 WO 4 /SiO 2 catalyst to the OCM reaction environment redisperses the molten Na 2 WO 4 phase on the SiO 2 support to form new surface WO x sites. Interestingly, the stable MnO x species interacts with both molten Na 2 WO 4 phase and surface Na-WO x sites during OCM reaction. Controlled transient kinetic experiments in TAP and detailed steady state OCM fixed-bed reaction studies reveal the role and promotional effect of Mn in the 1.2Mn-5Na 2 WO 4 /SiO 2 catalyst. The W-oxides (both molten Na 2 WO 4 and surface Na-WO x sites) are the active sites for the catalytic OCM reaction and the MnO x species only function as promoters. The promotion of MnO x strongly depends on the gas phase O 2 partial pressure and the MnO x species act as mediators for oxygen exchange between the gas phase molecular O 2 and catalyst lattice oxygen. In conclusion, the temperature dependent MnO x promotion reveals that the MnO x species selectively promote the molten Na 2 WO 4 phase at lower reaction temperature and the surface Na-WO x sites at higher temperature.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Mixed Nd 4+/3+ and Cluster Magnetism in Hexagonal Perovskite 12R-Ba 4 NdMn 3 O 12−γ

Hexagonal perovskite oxides with 12R stacking host well-separated face-sharing octahedral metal trimers with short metal–metal distances, leading in some cases to large degrees of magnetic frustration and cluster magnetism. Introducing magnetic ions in proximity to these trimers can influence the degree of frustration and cluster magnetism, but the extent to which the magnetism can be tuned by varying neighboring metal cations remains an open question. In this work, we test the impacts of using Nd in proximity to Mn trimers in the hexagonal perovskite 12R-Ba 4 NdMn 3 O 12−γ . Given this stoichiometry, Nd should assume the 4+ oxidation state with a spin state of S = 1, which would be the first realization of Nd 4+ in an oxide environment. Through detailed bulk magnetic, X-ray absorption spectroscopic, and powder neutron diffraction (PND) measurements, we find that Nd 4+ is realized in this material, but there is also partial reduction to Nd 3+ , which is charge-balanced by O vacancies. Magnetometry measurements indicate an antiferromagnetic ordering temperature T N ≈ 16 K, and PND measurements reveal a surprising collinear antiferromagnetic structure with magnetic space group Pc2/m (no. 10.49 in BNS notation), which has not previously been seen in this class of materials. Our results represent a comprehensive analysis of the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of 12R-Ba 4 NdMn 3 O 12−γ , showing the first observation of partial Nd 4+ in an oxide, and demonstrating that this structural class can host a broad range of magnetic structures which are not easily predicted based on compositional trends.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1997

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Vacuum Plasma Sprayed Cu-8Cr-4Nb

This paper compares the tensile properties of Cu-8Cr-4Nb material produced by VPS to material previously produced by extrusion. The microstructure of the VPS material is also presented. The combustion chamber liner of rocket motors represents an extreme materials application. The liner hot wall is exposed to a 2760 C (5000 F) flame while the cold side is exposed to cryogenic hydrogen liquid. Materials for use in the combustion chamber liner require a combination of high temperature strength, creep resistance, and low cycle fatigue resistance along with high thermal conductivity. The hot side is also subject to localized cycles between reducing and oxidizing environments that degrade the liner by a process called blanching. A new Cu-8 at.% Cr-4 at% Nb (Cu-8Cr-4Nb) alloy has been developed at NASA Lewis Research Center as a replacement for the currently used alloy, NARloy-z (Cu-3 wt.% Ag-0.5 wt.% Zr). The alloy is strengthened by a fine dispersion of Cr2Nb particles. The alloy has better mechanical properties than NARloy-Z while retaining most of the thermal conductivity of pure copper. The alloy has been successfully consolidated by extrusion and hot isostatic pressing (HIPing). However, vacuum plasma spraying (VPS) offers several advantages over prior consolidation methods. VPS can produce a near net shape piece with the profile of the liner. In addition, oxidation resistant and thermal barrier coatings can be incorporated as an integral part of the liner hot wall during the VPS deposition. The low oxygen VPS Cu-8Cr-4Nb exhibits a higher strength than Cu-8Cr-4Nb produced by extrusion at elevated temperatures and a comparable strength at room temperature. Moduli and ductility were not significantly different. However, the ability to produce parts to near-net shape and maintain the good elevated temperature tensile properties of the extruded Cu-8Cr-4Nb makes VPS an attractive processing method for fabricating rocket engine combustion liners.

Holmes, Richard↗
DOE OSTI2022

Control of High-Temperature Static and Transient Thermomechanical Behavior of SiMo Ductile Iron by Al Alloying

Abstract Silicon and molybdenum ( SiMo ) ductile iron is commonly used for exhaust manifolds because these components experience thermal cycling in oxidizing environment, which requires resistance to fatigue during transient thermomechanical loads. Previous studies have demonstrated that alloying elements, such as Al , to SiMo ductile iron reduces the amount of surface degradation during static high-temperature exposure. However, deterioration of sphericity of the graphite nodules and a decrease in ductility could affect the tendency of cracking during thermal cycling. In this article, the effect of Al alloying on static and transient thermomechanical behavior of SiMo ductile iron was investigated to optimize the amount of Al alloying. A thermodynamic approach was used to confirm the effect of the Al alloying on the phase transformations in two SiMo cast irons, alloyed by 1.8% Al and 3% Al . These two alloys were cast in a laboratory along with the baseline SiMo ductile iron. Several experimental methods were used to evaluate the dimensional stability, physical properties, static oxidation, and failure resistance during constrained thermal cycling testing to compare their high-temperature capability. Experimental results verified that Al alloying increases the temperature range and decreases volume change during eutectoid transformation, which together with enhancement of oxidation protection improved the dimensional stability. Thermocycling tests showed that the number of cycles to failure depends on the amount of Al alloying and the applied high-temperature exposure during each cycle. SEM/EDX, high-resolution TEM and µCT analysis were used to verify the mechanism resulting from the Al alloying protection. It was shown that an optimal level of Al alloying for balancing oxidation and thermal cracking resistance depends on thermomechanical conditions of application.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

High throughput discovery of enhanced visible photoactivity in Fe–Cr vanadate solar fuels photoanodes

Metal oxide solar absorbers are well suited for photoelectrochemical applications where requisite properties include stability in highly oxidizing environments, in addition to solar energy conversion. Metal vanadates are of particular interest due to their relatively low band gap energies compared to traditional, wide-gap photocatalysts. Concerted efforts on BiVO 4 -based photoanodes have revealed multiple avenues for improving the solar conversion efficiencies for photon energies above 2.5 eV but have not addressed the ultimate performance limitations from the undesirably high band gap energy. Fe and Cr vanadates have a lower band gap and thus a higher potential solar conversion efficiency, although to-date the absorbed 2–2.5 eV photons are not effectively converted to the desired anodic photocurrent. By using combinatorial synthesis and high throughput screening, we demonstrate that cation substitutions with the monoclinic MVO 4 phase (M = Cr, Fe) improves the utilization of photons in this energy range. Given the portfolio of photoanode improvement techniques available, we suggest optimization of (Cr 0.5 Fe 0.5 )VO 4 -based photoanodes as a promising path for enable solar fuel technologies.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Dynamic Surface Restructuring in Cu(Au) Alloys Driven by Oxygen-Mediated Au Mobility

Alloying plays a crucial role in tuning the surface properties of metals, but the atomic-level mechanisms by which alloying elements influence surface structure dynamics under reactive conditions remain elusive. Using Cu(Au) in oxidizing environments as a model system, we reveal a dynamic oxygen-induced transformation of the topmost atomic layer into a periodically hill-and-valley morphology with reversible switching between undulated and flattened surface states. These interconversions are driven by the retreat of surface Au to the subsurface during oxygen adsorption and its resegregation to the surface upon oxygen desorption. This cyclical mobility establishes a feedback loop, allowing the surface to dynamically reconfigure in response to changes in the oxygen pressure. The results offer a broadly applicable framework for understanding atomic-scale surface restructuring in alloy systems, where differences in the chemical reactivity of alloying elements drive dynamic redistribution between surface and subsurface regions. As a result, this dynamic coupling has practical implications for designing corrosion-resistant coatings and metastable nanostructures with tunable catalytic properties.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

The Influence of Environment on Post-Detonation Chemistry and Debris Formation (Abbreviated Final Report: 20-SI-006)

Predicting, responding to, or interpreting the chemical record preserved in debris derived from nuclear events can be challenging due to chemical fractionation. Chemical fractionation is where different species of the evolving radionuclide inventory segregate and/or are lost from the system over the timescales of debris formation. Both historic data and recent research suggest that the interaction and character of the local environment may exert controls on chemical fractionation by influencing the cooling and evolution of the associated fireball as well as the composition of the vapor term and resultant speciation. Prior to this work, an integrated platform permitting dynamic and concurrent consideration of physical and chemical evolution of early time post-detonation event environments did not exist. Our work merged historic data and experimental approaches to support development of a computational framework able to simulate fundamental processes (e.g., entrainment of local environment, oxidation chemistry, and cooling time scales) that may perturb the radionuclide inventory captured in post-detonation debris. Work with historic debris confirmed that entrained environmental material affect debris composition, structure, and radionuclide incorporation. Complementary work utilizing a readily controllable and tunable benchtop setup (a plasma flow reactor) simulated the late cooling of a nuclear fireball (e.g., T < 6000 K) and bounded the sensitivity of actinide speciation and particle size distribution to variations in oxygen concentration and cooling rates. Concurrent laser ablation and laser heating experiments were used to investigate the chemistry and physics of processes occurring in vaporized and/or rapidly heated actinides and other elements in the presence of oxygen. A more computationally efficient microphysical model was developed for predicting and evolving size distributions of particles forming from mixed vapor terms and simulating particle formation processes under a variety of extreme conditions. Continued study of historic nuclear event film confirmed that shockwave data and physics codes agree to within the uncertainty of the data. Good agreement was achieved for thermal emission from an airburst, however the paucity of low-temperature molecular opacity data for mixtures of air, bomb debris, entrained dirt, and water vapor complicate agreement for more elaborate scenarios. A multiphysics code (ALE3D) was modified to bring the necessary physics and chemistry, including these new data and insights, onto a single platform. Code development included improved initialization of large physical systems, modernization of chemistry capabilities, and modifications to enable inclusion of particle transport.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Stochastic Model for High Temperature Oxidation of Cr–Ni Austenitic Steels Assisted by Spallation

Abstract Cr–Ni austenitic steels offer significant high temperature corrosion protection by forming a surface oxide layer. However, above critical service conditions (temperature, atmosphere, thermal cycling), oxidized surface can experience intensive degradation because of scale spallation, which could be detrimental to the in-service life. To predict the effect of scale spallation on oxidation kinetics, a simulation was implemented using a stochastic model. The model considers topological parameters and intensity of spallation which can occur, while delivering a true oxidation constant. The experimental procedure identified the amount of formed spalled scale and topology of spallation based on the use of element mapping of the surface. This information was used to determine a true kinetic constant for a corresponding spallation intensity in oxidized Cr–Ni austenitic steel. To illustrate the capability of the stochastic model, a parametric analysis was performed. The model verified how the spallation parameters could change the oxidation processes from parabolic growth of an adhered oxide layer without spallation to a mixed linear-parabolic, or with a constant thickness of residual scale at high spallation intensity. The spallation model will be used in a separate article to characterize high temperature surface degradation of several Cr–Ni austenitic steels during harsh oxidation environments.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Revealing the dynamics of the alloying and segregation of Pt-Co nanoparticles via in-situ environmental transmission electron microscopy

Thermal treatment is a general and efficient way to synthesize intermetallic catalysts and may involve complicated physical processes. So far, the mechanisms leading to the size and composition heterogeneity, as well as the phase segregation behavior in Pt-Co nanoparticles (NPs) are still not well understood. Here, via in-situ environmental transmission electron microscopy, the formation dynamics and segregation behaviors of Pt-Co alloyed NPs during the thermal treatment were investigated. It is found that Pt-Co NPs on zeolitic imidazolate frameworks-67-derived nanocarbon (NC) are formed consecutively through both particle migration coalescence and the Ostwald ripening process. The existence of Pt NPs is found to affect the movement of Co NPs during their migration. With the help of theoretical calculations, the correlations between the composition and migration of the Pt and Co during the ripening process were uncovered. Herein, these complex alloying processes are revealed as key factors leading to the heterogeneity of the synthesized Pt-Co alloyed NPs. Under oxidation environment, the Pt-Co NPs become surface faceted gradually, which can be attributed to the oxygen facilitated relatively higher segregation rate of Co from the (111) surface. This work advances the fundamental understanding of design, synthesis, and durability of the Pt-based nanocatalysts.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Petrology and geochemistry of the Middle Pennsylvanian (Langsettian) Clintwood coalbed, Pike County, Kentucky

Abstract The Middle Pennsylvanian, Langsettian sub-stage Clintwood coal, along with its correlatives, was one of the more important energy resources in eastern Kentucky. The coal thickens from the NE-SW-trending Belfry anticline in central Pike County to the southeast, towards the Virginia-Kentucky border. Much of the thickness increase is in the bright lithotypes below a dull lithology. The bright lithologies transition from a bright clarain + vitrain + fusain lithology to a clarain + fusain lithology to the southeast. Half of the lithotypes in the three analyzed sections exceed 1000-µg/g Rare earth elements + Y + Sc (REYSc) (ash basis). The La N /Sm N vs. Gd N /Yb N and La N /Sm N vs. Ce N /Ce N * plots suggest that the top lithotype may have had best indication of an oxidizing environment. Positive Gd N /Gd N * and Eu N /Eu N * in some of the lithologies suggests that there may have been a hydrothermal influence in the sediment sources and/or in the diagenesis of the coal. Consideration of La N /Sm N and Zr (µg/g; ash basis), Zr vs. Sr, and V/Cr vs. inertinite/(inertinite + vitrinite) indicates that the dull lithotypes existed in a distinct geochemical environment compared to the brighter lithotypes. The isolation of the dull lithotypes from the bright lithotypes is supported by principal components analysis on inertinite/(inertinite + vitrinite), La N /Sm N , V/Cr, Sr, and either Zr or Ln(100(TiO 2 )/Al 2 O 3 ).

Hower, James C. (ORCID:0000000346942776)↗
DOE OSTI2023

A high-performance lung-inspired ceramic 3D-printed heat exchanger for high-temperature energy-efficient systems

The thermal-to-electric conversion efficiency of next-generation supercritical carbon dioxide and concentrated solar power plants is significantly augmented by operating at temperatures exceeding 1000 °C if durable, compact, high-temperature heat exchangers (HXs) are developed. Whereas metal 3D-printed HXs fail to operate under extreme temperature conditions, ceramic 3D-printed HXs are deemed promising candidates for high-temperature, highly oxidizing environments. Ceramic 3D-printed HXs, however, exhibit a high gas permeability issue through hot and cold separating walls due to an excessive non-volatile photopolymer content utilized. Here, in this work, a novel leak-free lung-inspired ceramic 3D-printed HX employing a highly complex heat transfer topology is introduced for high-temperature energy-efficient systems. The high permeability issue of ceramic 3D-printed HXs is fully eliminated through a uniform zinc-based coating. It was determined that the effective thermal conductivity of the sintered ceramic heat exchangers is affected by the coated layer. The high-temperature thermal and hydraulic characteristics of the lung-inspired ceramic 3D-printed HX are comprehensively examined and compared against a millichannel 3D-printed HX module. Experimental results indicated that the lung-inspired 3D-printed ceramic HX significantly outperforms its millichannel counterpart. The lung-inspired HX shows a volume-based power density of 8.2 MW/m3 at a hot-side inlet air temperature of 700°C, a 71 % improvement compared with that of the millichannel HX. More importantly, the higher thermal duty of the lung-inspired 3D-printed HX is realized at a lower normalized pressure drop penalty of 510 Pa/W, 22 % lower than that of the millichannel ceramic HX. This study accelerates the advancement of high-performance ceramic 3D-printed HXs with complex topologies for high-temperature energy-efficient systems and/or corrosive environments.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Energy catalysis needs ligands with high oxidative stability

Replacing fossil fuel-based energy by renewable sources is a transition that society needs to make to meet future energy demand and simultaneously address climate change. Coupling renewable energy sources with electrochemical catalysis provides a promising path to carbon-neutral fuels and chemicals when the necessary reducing equivalents and protons are harvested from water. Developing highly active, stable, and inexpensive electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is accordingly a centerpiece of a renewable energy portfolio. Whereas viable OER catalysts are heterogeneous in nature, owing to their oxidative stability, the realization of stable molecular OER catalysts greatly expands the horizon of energy science with the ability to tune OER energetics and mechanisms with fidelity. In this perspective, current challenges in the field of molecular OER catalysis are addressed with promising lines of research that are directed to designing ligands that can withstand the harsh oxidizing environment of OER.

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

Recent advances in single-atom catalysts and single-atom alloys: opportunities for exploring the uncharted phase space in-between

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have gained significant world-wide attention for exhibiting distinct reactivity and selectivity for important reactions, while utilizing precious metals at the ultimate limit of efficiency. SACs involving reducible oxide supports are good catalysts for oxidation reactions, and metal-acid site pairs enable Csingle bondC bond formation, but SACs can deactivate by sintering under reducing conditions. On the other hand, single-atom alloys (SAAs) are robust towards sintering and exhibit exceptional catalytic performance for a wide range of reactions under reducing conditions but can deactivate under oxidizing environments. Therefore, there is tremendous opportunity to explore and exploit catalytic reactivity between the SAC and SAA extremes. Furthermore, this paper focuses on recent advances in both fields and highlights prospects for future research.

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

Thermodynamics and kinetics of interconversion between platinum nanoparticles and cations in zeolites

In metal-containing zeolites, sintering and redispersion processes exercise control over the identity of metal site structures, but the thermodynamic and kinetic factors that influence these molecular-level processes are not completely understood. Furthermore, we assess the ability of first principles informed free energy models (for supported and unsupported nanoparticles) and kinetic models integrating Ostwald ripening with atom trapping to describe the interconversion between Pt cations and nanoparticles encapsulated in chabazite (CHA) zeolites. Density functional theory-derived thermodynamic phase diagrams show that the interconversion between cations, favored in oxidizing environments, and particles, favored in reducing environments, is fully reversible within a wide range of their respective conditions (temperatures and pressures) for CHA and several other zeolite topologies. Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of Pt redispersion are consistent with experimentally observed redispersion kinetics of encapsulated Pt nanoparticles in CHA zeolites, and model results suggest the zeolite host imparts additional stability for Pt nanoparticles. We envision our thermodynamic and kinetic models for Pt-CHA are also capable of describing nanoparticle and cation interconversions for other zeolite frameworks under similar conditions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

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↗