Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “transfer process”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 127 records · Page 7

First-principles investigation of near-field energy transfer between localized quantum emitters in solids

We present a predictive and general approach to investigate near-field energy transfer processes between localized defects in semiconductors, which couples first-principles electronic structure calculations and a nonrelativistic quantum electrodynamics description of photons in the weak-coupling regime. The approach is general and can be readily applied to investigate broad classes of defects in solids. We apply our approach to investigate an exemplar point defect in an oxide, the F center in MgO, and we show that the energy transfer from a magnetic source, e.g., a rare-earth impurity, to the vacancy can lead to spin nonconserving long-lived excitations that are dominant processes in the near field, at distances relevant to the design of photonic devices and ultrahigh dense memories. We also define a descriptor for coherent energy transfer to predict geometrical configurations of emitters to enable long-lived excitations, that are useful to design optical memories in semiconductor and insulators. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Chattaraj, Swarnabha (ORCID:0000000329333581)↗

Efficient Intermolecular Energy Exchange and Soft-ionization of Water at Nanoplatelet Interfaces

X-ray, energetic photon and electron irradiation can ionize and electronically excite target atoms and molecules. These excitations undergo complicated relaxation and energy transfer processes that ultimately determine the manifold of system responses to the deposited excess energy. In weakly bound gas- and solution-phase samples, intermolecular Coulomb decay (ICD) and electron-transfer mediated decay (ETMD) can occur with neighboring atoms or molecules leading to efficient transfer of the excess energy to the surroundings. In ionic solids such as metal-oxides, intra- and inter-atomic Auger decay produces localized final states that lead to lattice damage and typically removal of cations from the substrate. The relative importance of Auger stimulated damage (ASD) versus ICD and ETMD in micro-solvated nanoparticle interfaces is not known. Though ASD is generally expected, essentially no lattice damage and very efficient ICD and ETMD resulting from ionization and electronic excitation of micro-solvated boehmite (AlOOH) nanoplatelets has been observed. Efficient energy transfer and soft ionization of interfacial molecules is likely a general phenomenon at gas-oxyhydroxide nanoparticle interfaces where the density of states of the ionized chemisorbed species significantly overlap the core hole states of the solid.

Jones, Brant M.↗

Timescales and Processes of Methane Hydrate Formation and Breakdown, With Application to Geologic Systems

Abstract Gas hydrate is an ice‐like form of water and low molecular weight gas stable at temperatures of roughly −10°C to 25°C and pressures of ~3 to 30 MPa in geologic systems. Natural gas hydrates sequester an estimated one sixth of Earth's methane and are found primarily in deepwater marine sediments on continental margins, but also in permafrost areas and under continental ice sheets. When gas hydrate is removed from its stability field, its breakdown has implications for the global carbon cycle, ocean chemistry, marine geohazards, and interactions between the geosphere and the ocean‐atmosphere system. Gas hydrate breakdown can also be artificially driven as a component of studies assessing the resource potential of these deposits. Furthermore, geologic processes and perturbations to the ocean‐atmosphere system (e.g., warming temperatures) can cause not only dissociation, but also more widespread dissolution of hydrate or even formation of new hydrate in reservoirs. Linkages between gas hydrate and disparate aspects of Earth's near‐surface physical, chemical, and biological systems render an assessment of the rates and processes affecting the persistence of gas hydrate an appropriate Centennial Grand Challenge. This paper reviews the thermodynamic controls on methane hydrate stability and then describes the relative importance of kinetic, mass transfer, and heat transfer processes in the formation and breakdown (dissociation and dissolution) of gas hydrate. Results from numerical modeling, laboratory, and some field studies are used to summarize the rates of hydrate formation and breakdown, followed by an extensive treatment of hydrate dynamics in marine and cryospheric gas hydrate systems.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Charge Transfer Properties of Heterostructures Formed by Bi 2 O 2 Se and Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Monolayers

Atomically thin bismuth oxyselenide (Bi 2 O 2 Se) exhibits attractive properties for electronic and optoelectronic applications, such as high charge-carrier mobility and good air stability. Recently, the development of Bi 2 O 2 Se-based heterostructures have attracted enormous interests with promising prospects for diverse device applications. Although the electrical properties of Bi 2 O 2 Se-based heterostructures have been widely studied, the interlayer charge transfer in these heterostructures remains elusive, despite its importance in harnessing their emergent functionalities. Here, a comprehensive experimental investigation on the interlayer charge transfer properties of two heterostructures formed by Bi 2 O 2 Se and representative transition metal dichalcogenides (namely, WS 2 /Bi 2 O 2 Se and MoS 2 /Bi 2 O 2 Se) is reported. In this work, Kelvin probe force microscopy is used to measure the work functions of the samples, which are further employed to establish type-II band alignment of both heterostructures. Photoluminescence quenching is observed in each heterostructure, suggesting high charge transfer efficiency. Time-resolved and layer-selective pump–probe measurements further prove the ultrafast interlayer charge transfer processes and formation of long-lived interlayer excitons. These results establish the feasibility of integrating 2D Bi 2 O 2 Se with other 2D semiconductors to fabricate heterostructures with novel charge transfer properties and provide insight for understanding the performance of optoelectronic devices based on such 2D heterostructures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

UV-induced dissociation of CH 2 BrI probed by intense femtosecond XUV pulses

The ultraviolet (UV)-induced dissociation and photofragmentation of gas-phase CH 2 BrI molecules induced by intense femtosecond extreme ultraviolet (XUV) pulses at three different photon energies are studied by multi-mass ion imaging. Using a UV-pump–XUV-probe scheme, charge transfer between highly charged iodine ions and neutral CH 2 Br radicals produced by C–I bond cleavage is investigated. In earlier charge-transfer studies, the center of mass of the molecules was located along the axis of the bond cleaved by the pump pulse. In the present case of CH 2 BrI, this is not the case, thus inducing a rotation of the fragment. We discuss the influence of the rotation on the charge transfer process using a classical over-the-barrier model. Our modeling suggests that, despite the fact that the dissociation is slower due to the rotational excitation, the critical interatomic distance for charge transfer is reached faster. Furthermore, we suggest that charge transfer during molecular fragmentation may be modulated in a complex way.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Wettability Effects on Falling Film Flow and Heat Transfer Over Horizontal Tubes in Jet Flow Mode

The performance of a falling-film heat exchanger is strongly linked to the surface characteristics and the heat transfer processes that take place over the tubes. The primary aim of this numerical study is to characterize the influence of surface wettability on the film flow behavior and its associated surface heat transfer in the jet-flow mode. Volume of fluid (VOF) based simulations are carried out for horizontal tubes with different surface wettabilities. The wettability of the tube surfaces is represented using the Kistler's dynamic contact angle model. Surface wettability effects ranging from superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic are studied by varying the equilibrium contact angle from 2 deg to 175 deg. Two different liquid mass flow rates of 0.06 and 0.18 kg/m-s corresponding to the inline and staggered jet flow modes are studied. Results are presented in terms of the liquid film thickness, the contact areas between the different phases (solid–liquid and liquid–air), and the heat transfer coefficient or Nusselt number. The resistance imposed by the increasing contact angles inhibits the extent of the liquid spreading over the tube surface, and this, in turn, influences the liquid film thickness, and the wetted area of the tube surface. A significant decrement in the heat transfer rate from the tube surfaces was observed as the equilibrium contact angle increased from 2 deg to 175 deg. The local distributions of the Nusselt number over the tube surface are strongly influenced by the flow recirculation in the liquid bulk.

Engineering↗

Feasibility of full-core pin resolved CFD simulations of small modular reactor with momentum sources

Complex flow structure interactions and heat transfer processes take place in nuclear reactor cores. Given the extreme pressure/temperature and radioactive conditions inside the core, numerical simulations offer an attractive and sometimes more feasible approach to study the related flow and heat transfer phenomena in addition to the experiments. Under the Exascale Computing Project, the full-core simulation of a small modular reactor (SMR) has been pursued coupling Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and neutronics. A key aspect of the modeling of SMR fuel assemblies is the presence of spacer grids and the mixing promoted by mixing vanes or the equivalent. A reduced order methodology is adopted based on momentum sources to mimic the mixing of the vanes. The momentum sources have been carefully calibrated with detailed Large Eddy Simulations (LES) of spacer grids performed with Nek5000. Modeling the spacer grid and mixing vanes (SGMV) effect without body-fitted computational grid avoids the excessive costs in resolving the local geometric details, and thus supports the simulation to be scaled up to the full core. Besides the progress on momentum source modeling, this paper also features the first full-core pin resolved CFD simulation ever performed to the authors' knowledge. This represents a significant advancement in capability for the CFD of nuclear reactors, which will hopefully serve as an inspiration for further integrating high-fidelity numerical simulations in actual engineering designs.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Replication of x-ray blazed gratings by nano-inscribing.

A nano-inscribing technique was tested as a method of cost-effective replication of blazed diffraction gratings for x-rays. A saw-tooth mold for the nano-inscribing was fabricated by a double-replication process from a master blazed grating. The nano-inscribing was performed using a UV-curable resist of low viscosity to provide a small thickness of the resist replicas, required for a following transfer process. The nano-inscribing process was optimized to minimize surface relaxation and preserve the saw-tooth shape of the grooves, required for high diffraction efficiency. The quality of the replica gratings was evaluated via diffraction efficiency simulations. The simulations demonstrated that near theoretical efficiency can be achieved for the x-ray gratings made by the nano-inscribing approach.

blazed grating↗

Influence of Ink Formulation and Drying Conditions on Ionomer Distribution in High-Performance Roll-to-Roll-Coated Gas-Diffusion Electrodes

To enable mass production of fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) catalyst layers production will require continuous roll-to-roll (R2R) coating processes. Gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) are advantageous for mass production because the catalyst layer can be directely coated on the microporous layer of the gas diffusion media without the need for a decal-transfer process. It is known that the water-to-alcohol ratio in the catalyst ink influences the interactions of the ionomer with the catalyst leading to different distributions of ionomer in spray-coated catalyst layers. It is also known that during drying of colloidal mixtures, like fuel cell inks, factors such as drying rate, particle size, and agglomeration influence how the materials distribute themselves throughout the thickness of the dired film. Thus far there have only been limited studies to understand how process conditions such as ink formulation and drying temperature influence the distribution of ionomer and catalyst coated using scalable methods. This understanding is especially important for GDEs since it is known that having a sufficient amount of ionomer at the catalyst layer-membrane interface is critical for high performance. In this study we have focused on determining how the ratio of water to 1-propanol in the catalyst ink ink and drying temperature influence the distribution of ionomer throughout the thickness of the catalyst layer. Using a combination of Kelvin probe and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy we show that an ionomer-rich surface is promoted by a higher drying rate and a water-rich catalyst ink. In contrast, a 1-propanol catalyst ink leads to a lower concentration of ionomer on the top surface. Using x-ray computed tomography, we are able to characterize the ionomer distribution throughout the thickness of the layer. We find that, in addition to promoting an ionomer-rich top surface, water-rich inks lead to a more homogenous distribution of ionomer, whereas a 1-propanol-rich ink leads to a more irregular distribution. It is found that MEA performance is improved by selecting conditions and ink formulations that promote ionomer enrichment at the top surface to facilitate a good interface with the membrane. MEAs prepared with a 75 wt% water catalyst ink with a 0.9 I/C have equivalent performance to spray-coated GDEs. Critically, these R2R-coated GDEs do not need an additional ionomer overlayer like the spray-coated GDEs do, reducing the number of processing steps in a manufacturing setting. This work shows that with the appropriate selection of materials, ink formulation, and processing conditions gas-diffusion electrodes are a viable pathway for fuel cell manufacturing.

ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION↗

Process parameter translation strategies for variable directed energy deposition spot size using 316L, copper, and Inconel 625

Directed energy deposition (DED) is a form of additive manufacturing available across a variety of laser spot diameter values, often referred to as spot sizes. However, there is no method to easily transfer process parameters across discrete spot sizes, leading to DED process parameters that are equipment specific and not widely applicable. In this study, a strategy is proposed and investigated for five spot sizes that keep the areal energy density constant while varying power, feed rate, and powder flow during the deposition of 316L stainless steel. An assessment of trends in hardness and microstructure is possible due to the novel production of components of a single material across several spot sizes using a single nozzle on a single DED system. The proposed strategy was used to nullify the hardness drop during functional grading of Inconel 625 and pure copper, enabling fabrication of multi-material sample that does not compromise desirable properties. This application shows the value in establishing more efficient process parameter development and understanding spot size influences on geometric and material property flexibility, to enable a more diverse powder-based DED design space and to increase the industry adoption of DED systems.

316L↗

Engaging the Regulatory Community to Aid Environmental Consenting/Permitting Processes for Marine Renewable Energy

Regulators involved in consenting/permitting marine renewable energy (MRE) have faced multiple challenges due to relatively new, unfamiliar technologies and uncertainty surrounding potential environmental impacts. This has resulted in slow progress for the MRE industry, including long consenting timeframes and extensive and expensive monitoring requirements, which increase financial risk for investors. OES-Environmental has surveyed regulators internationally to understand their key knowledge gaps and perspectives to support the development of the MRE industry. From the results of these surveys a data transferability process and a risk retirement pathway have been developed to assess consenting and monitoring requirements in proportion to risk. A tool for discovering existing data sets by using an online matrix has been developed, along with training materials, regulatory guidance documents, and a strategic outreach plan to engage regulators and advisers. his engagement and the application of these products should lead to a better understanding of the environmental effects of marine energy, and more efficient consenting processes.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

Development and Validation of Predictive Models for In-Cylinder Radiation and Wall Heat Transfer

The lack of accurate submodels for in-cylinder radiation and heat transfer has been identified as a key shortcoming in developing truly predictive, physics-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models that can be used to develop and design combustion systems for advanced high-efficiency, low-emissions engines. Measurements of wall boundary layers in engines show discrepancies of up to 100% with respect to standard CFD boundary layer models. And analysis of in-cylinder radiation based on the most recent spectral property databases and high-fidelity radiative transfer equation solvers has shown that at operating pressures and exhaust-gas recirculation levels typical of modern compression-ignition truck engines, molecular gas radiation (mainly carbon dioxide and water vapor) can be more important than soot particle radiation, and that a significant fraction of the emitted radiation (50% or more) can be reabsorbed before reaching the walls, thereby acting to redistribute energy in the combustion chamber. In this project, an integrated experimental and simulation approach has been used to generate new physical insight into in-cylinder heat-transfer processes in engines, and to develop computationally practicable CFD-based models that accurately represent the physics. New experimental data have been taken in an optically accessible single-cylinder research engine, and in a multi-cylinder production engine. Those data have provided new insight into the radiative environment in engines. New CFD models have been developed and validated for in-cylinder heat transfer, focusing mainly on radiative heat transfer and coupling between turbulent boundary layer wall heat transfer and radiative heat transfer. The CFD models have been developed and implemented in an open-source software framework that can be shared with other researchers. The models are compatible both with unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes (URANS) formulations and with large-eddy simulations (LES) of in-cylinder processes in engines.

02 PETROLEUM↗

First-Principles Approach for Assessing Cold Electron Injection Efficiency of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell: Elucidation of Mechanism of Charge Injection and Recombination

The adequacy of the inclusion of spacer units in the metal-free D-π–A organic dyes pertaining to the augmentation of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) efficiency has been examined through the excited-state simulations of the charge injection and recombination processes at the dye–semiconductor interface. Within the framework of the time-dependent density functional theory, the proposed computational studies focus on the precise evaluation of pivotal factors controlling the rates of photoinduced charge-transfer and energy-transfer processes, including electronic coupling, reorganization energy, and threshold energy barrier in the semiclassical Marcus formalism. The estimation of the fluorescent state appears to be the crucial step while explaining the ultrafast electron injection process and the charge recombination at the Marcus inverted region, as revealed by the obtained results. The retardation of charge recombination is facilitated by the insertion of a thiophene moiety between the π-bridge and the acceptor units. The estimated cold electron injection efficiencies deploying the Onsager–Braun theory, that rely on the computations of cold electron injection lifetime and cold electron lifetime, show a linear correlation with the experimental photovoltaic parameters of the DSSC comprising short-circuit current density, open-circuit voltage, and power conversion efficiency. The outcomes of the present investigation establish a basis for unraveling the mechanism of intricate dynamical processes upon photoexcitation of the sensitizers, as well as devising plausible routes for functional DSSC materials.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Redox-Induced Structural Reorganization Dictates Kinetics of Cobalt(III) Hydride Formation via Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer

Two-electron, one-proton reactions of a family of [CoCp(dxpe)(NCCH 3 )] 2+ complexes (Cp = cyclopentadienyl, dxpe = 1,2-bis(di(aryl/alkyl)phosphino)ethane) form the corresponding hydride species [HCoCp(dxpe)] + through a stepwise proton-coupled electron transfer process. For three [CoCp(dxpe)(NCCH 3 )] 2+ complexes (dxpe = dppe (1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane), depe (1,2-bis(diethylphosphino)ethane), and dcpe (1,2-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)ethane)), peak shift analysis was employed to quantify apparent proton transfer rate constants from cyclic voltammograms recorded with acids ranging 22 pK a units. The apparent proton transfer rate constants correlate with the strength of the proton source for weak acids, but these apparent proton transfer rate constants curiously plateau (k pl ) as the reaction becomes increasingly exergonic. The absolute apparent proton transfer rate constants across both these regions correlate with the steric bulk of the chelating diphosphine ligand, with bulkier ligands leading to slower kinetics (k plateau,depe = 3.5 x 10 7 M -1 s -1 , k plateau,dppe = 1.7 x 10 7 M -1 s -1 , k plateau,dcpe = 7.1 x 10 4 M -1 s -1 ). Mechanistic studies were conducted to identify the cause of the aberrant $k_PT^{app}$–ΔpK a trends. When the deuterated acids are employed, deuterium incorporation in the Cp ring is observed, indicating protonation of the CoCp(dxpe) species to form the corresponding hydride proceeds via initial ligand protonation. Digital simulations of cyclic voltammograms show ligand loss accompanying initial reduction gates subsequent PCET activity at higher driving forces. Together, these experiments reveal the details of the reaction mechanism: reduction of the Co(III) species is followed by dissociation of the bound acetonitrile ligand, subsequent reduction of the unligated Co(II) species to form a Co(I) species is followed by protonation, which occurs at the Cp ring, followed by tautomerization to generate the stable Co(III)-hydride product [HCoCp(dxpe)] + . Analysis as a function of chelating disphosphine ligand, solvent, and acid strength reveals that the ligand dissociation equilibrium is directly influenced by the steric bulk of the phosphine ligands and gates protonation, giving rise to the plateau of apparent proton transfer rate constant with strong acids. The complexity of the reaction mechanism underpinning hydride formation, encompassing dynamic behavior of the entire ligand set, highlights the critical need to understand elementary reaction steps in proton-coupled electron transfer reactions.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Wide-Gap Perovskite via Synergetic Surface Passivation and Its Application toward Efficient Stacked Tandem Photovoltaics

Superior bandgap tunability enables solution-processed halide perovskite a promising candidate for multi-junction photovoltaics (PVs). Particularly, optically coupling wide-gap perovskite by stacking with commercially available PVs such as silicon and CIGS (also known as 4-terminal tandem) simplifies the technology transfer process, and further advances the commercialization potential of perovskite technology. However, compared with matured PV materials and the phase-pure FAPbI 3 , wide-gap perovskite still suffers from huge voltage deficits. Here, the authors take advantage of the synergetic effect behind a sequential fluoride and organic ammonium salt surface passivation strategy to control non-radiative energy losses, and obtained a 17.7% efficiency in infrared-transparent wide-gap perovskite solar cells (21.1% for opaque device), and achieved efficiencies of over 25% when stacked with commercial Si and CIGS products with original PCEs of 18–20% under a 4-terminal working condition.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Infiltration synthesis of hybrid nanocomposite resists for advanced nanolithography

In this work, we demonstrate a simple ex-situ inorganic infiltration route for transforming standard organic resists into highperformance positive tone hybrid resist platform. A model thin film PMMA-AlOx hybrid resist system has been synthesized by hybridization of PMMA with AlOx and investigated for electron beam lithography. The approach possesses full controllability of the resist performance in terms of critical does, patterning contrast reaching up to 30 and etch resistance for plasma-based pattern transfer processes. The high selectivity Si etching capability demonstrated using a lowtemperature cryo-Si etch process, based on the controlled infiltration outperforms commercial resists and typical hard mask material thermal SiO 2 , with estimated achievable selectivity in excess of ~300. Si nanostructures down to ~30 nm with aspect ratio up to ~17 are also transferred into the Si substrate. Easy implementation and adaptability for different inorganic infiltrations, this platform is well capable of potentially delivering the resist performance and throughput necessary for EUV lithography.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Nanoscale observations of Fe(ii)-induced ferrihydrite transformation

Because of its sorption properties, transformation of the nanomineral ferrihydrite (Fh) into more stable lepidocrocite (Lp) or goethite (Gt) has important impacts on the fate of metals, nutrients, and contaminants in soils/sediments. Although it is well known that the transformation rate is greatly accelerated under suboxic conditions by aqueous Fe(II), the enabling mass transfer process remains an ongoing debate among various mechanisms including dissolution/reprecipitation, solid-state recrystallization, and particle-mediated growth. In this paper, using electron microscopy, we examine the mineralogical evolution of 2-line Fh to Lp/Gt catalyzed by Fe(II) under strict anoxic conditions, including evaluation of Cl–SO 4 –HCO 3 anion effects. Emergence of Lp/Gt crystallites at the nanoscale was observed at ~20 min of reaction, earlier than previously reported. Lp is the first phase to nucleate in Cl-rich solutions without HCO 3 – ; whereas Lp and Gt concomitantly nucleate in SO 4 2– -rich solutions, and also when co-solute HCO 3 – is added. Lp crystallites nucleate as quasi-2D nanosheets one-unit-cell thick that contour the Fh surface; in contrast, rod-shaped (in Cl/SO 4 ) or acicular needle-shaped (in HCO 3 ) Gt crystals nucleate and grow radially outward from the Fh aggregates. Stages of transformation monitored by in situ μ-XRD coupled with aqueous Fe(II) uptake/release measurements are correlated with a short initial sorption stage followed by the onset of Lp/Gt growth that then progresses to Lp loss in favor of Gt. Microscopy data overwhelmingly support dissolution/reprecipitation as the underlying mechanism, including direct evidence for classical ion-by-ion Lp/Gt growth and Lp dissolution. The collective findings imply that the iron mass transfer through solution to distal Lp/Gt growth fronts is a critical enabling process facilitating rapid transformation.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Core hole processes in x-ray absorption and photoemission by resonant Auger-electron spectroscopy and first-principles theory

Electron–core hole interactions are critical for proper interpretation of core-level spectroscopies commonly used as analytical tools in materials science. Here we utilize resonant Auger-electron spectroscopy to uniquely identify exciton, shake, and charge-transfer processes that result from the sudden creation of the core hole in both x-ray-absorption and photoemission spectra. These effects are captured for the transition-metal compounds SrTiO 3 and MoS 2 by fully ab initio, combined real-time cumulant, and Bethe-Salpeter equation approaches to account for core hole dynamics and screening. Atomic charges and excited-state electron-density fluctuations reflect materials’ solid-state electronic structure, loss of translational symmetry around the core hole, and breakdown of the sudden approximation. They also demonstrate competition between long- and short-range screening in a solid.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗