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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 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Optimal CO2 Transport and Storage Cost Screening: Application Example

Poster on “Optimal CO2 Transport and Storage Cost Screening: Application Example” for the CCUS 2025 conference held in Houston, Texas March 3-5, 2025. A major challenge to commercial scale CCS deployment from the perspective of coal and natural gas-fired power plants is understanding cost-optimal CO2 transport and viable geologic storage options. This study demonstrates unique workflows, using NETL-developed, publicly-available models and tools, to efficiently estimate optimal CO2 transport and storage (T&S) costs for each of the CO2 sources in NETL’s Carbon Capture Retrofit Databases (CCRD) for Electricity Generating Units. The results demonstrate the impact of cost-drivers on optimal T&S, and trends in optimal T&S data, based on real point sources that could be retrofitted with CO2 source technologies.

application example↗
DOE OSTI2025

Enhanced Weathering: Techno-Economic and Life Cycle Screening Analysis

This report presents a detailed, transparent, and independent screening level techno-economic analysis and lifecycle analysis of enhanced weathering of igneous rocks and industrial waste materials. The performance, costs, and CO 2 removal potential is reported for a process spanning material acquisition, preparation, transport, application and monitoring, reporting, and verification. The base cases examined serve as a reference for informative performance and cost sensitivity analyses. This approach aims to highlight promising scenarios for enhanced weathering application and potential avenues for cost reduction.

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

Automated Algorithms for Screening Electronic Parts for Aging using Power Spectra Analysis (PSA) Data

Understanding the age of semiconductor parts being built into devices and systems is of interest for manufacturing quality control. Power spectrum analysis (PSA) is a fast, non-destructive, sensitive method for examining semiconductor parts. This talk will cover the use of multivariate analysis on both PSA data and conventional current-voltage data generated prior to PSA analysis to create algorithms that can be automated to screen semiconductor parts for aging.

Multari, Rosalie A↗
DOE OSTI2024

A rapid, pulsed laser testing approach for single event latch-up screening in microelectronics

A pulsed laser testing system for rapid screening of single-event latch-up (SEL) in microelectronics with real-time visualization of sensitive nodes via photo-emission is presented. We provide a detailed overview of the system, followed by SEL threshold measurements in an analog-to-digital converter (AD9240). We find that SEL thresholds are comparable to measurements taken with a low-repetition rate, fixed beam system, and demonstrate full-die scanning speeds can be an order of magnitude faster

Andrus, Liam Padraic↗
DOE OSTI2025

Direct Air Capture Case Studies: Limestone Looping Screening-Level Analysis

A screening-level techno-economic analysis of a passive limestone looping direct air capture system is presented. The base case examined in this report does not represent an optimized system and makes many simplifying assumptions due to the nascence of the technology and lack of publicly available information. The base case serves as a reference for detailed and informative sensitivity analyses. This initial study (1) reveals that improving reaction rate and tray configuration can potentially significantly reduce cost, and (2) indicates that LL has the potential to be cost competitive with other DAC technologies.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Outgassing Screening of AE3030 & AE3030LS

AE3030 and AE3030LS conductive epoxy-based filler materials (products of ©Tatsuta Electric Wire & Cable Co., Ltd.) underwent cryo-focusing GC/MS headspace analysis. This study is intended to 1) evaluate the general outgassing characteristics of the materials and 2) screen for outgassing compounds suspected to increase the risk of corrosion reactions in closed systems (e.g., sulfur containing compounds).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

The Risk Assessment Information System Compendium of Ecological Screening Benchmarks for Chemicals and Radionuclides (2025) (Volume I – Text, Radionuclides for all Media, Chemicals for Air and Biota)

The Risk Assessment Information System Ecological Benchmark Tool compiles screening level benchmark values for assessing potential ecological risks posed by chemical and radionuclide contaminants. Drawing from a wide array of federal, state, and international sources, it consolidates benchmarks across environmental media, including soil, water, sediment, air, and biota, and presents values for a broad range of receptors and exposure pathways. The tool includes both effect-based and no-effect thresholds, with media- and organism-specific guidance derived from peer-reviewed literature and regulatory frameworks. By integrating diverse benchmark types into a unified reference, the tool supports consistent, scientifically grounded evaluations in ecological risk assessments and environmental management practices.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Towards Commercialization of Low-Cost, Crack-Tolerant, Screen-Printable Metallization by Full-Size Module Testing and Field Characterization

This project is motivated by the need to develop a materials engineering solution to reduce solar module degradation caused by cell cracks. The cell-crack-induced power loss is a long-term degradation mechanism and one of the main causes of solar panel field failures. Cell cracks can occur during module fabrication, transportation, installation, and long-term operation due to thermomechanical stressors. Our team’s internal estimation – based on the national weather pattern, frequency of severe weather, and 39- GW asset survey by Heliolytics – reveals that the cell-crack-induced module degradation translates to lost revenues >$17B over an average 5-year period for solar farm owners and to reduced reliability (<25 years panel lifetime) for solar energy consumers. In response to this challenge, the prime recipient offers a metal matrix composite (MMC) silver paste that is tailor-engineered for screen-printing gridlines and busbars, which serve as the electrical contacts on solar cells. We formulate our MMC paste by adding low-cost (∼0.02¢/WDC for research grade), surface-engineered carbon nanotubes to commercially available silver paste. The MMC paste offers a drop-in, cost-effective solution to cell cracks for solar cell and module manufacturers. The main goal of this project was to conduct field-relevant, module-level analysis and qualification of MMC metallization.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Feedstock/Pretreatment Screening for Bioconversion of Sugars and Lignin Residues

This project will conduct biomass deconstruction (pretreatment and enzymatic saccharification) on two representative biomass feedstocks and four different pretreatment processes, including three high temperature steam/chemical pretreatments and one low temperature chemical/mechanical pretreatment. A third biomass feedstock will undergo biomass deconstruction with three different pretreatment processes, including two high temperature chemical pretreatments and one low temperature chemical/mechanical pretreatment. Several pretreatment conditions will be performed in a screening study using NLR pilot-scale pretreatment equipment to generate a range of pretreated biomass substrates. A selected number of these substrates will be chosen for enzymatic saccharification evaluation, based on standard compositional analysis of the pretreated substrates as a primary indicator of pretreatment efficacy. Resulting enzymatic hydrolysis slurries will be analyzed to determine overall biomass sugar yields. Additional compositional analysis will be performed to determine oligomeric sugar composition and structure, to analyze structural characteristics of solids fractions on native, pretreated, and enzymatically saccharified biomass residues for one of the biomass feedstocks, corn stover. The enzymatically saccharified materials will undergo 2,3-butanediol fermentation in a shaker flask as bench scale. Using relevant process performance data collected in these various conversion steps, technoeconomic analysis activities will be performed to compare the economic potential of the various biomass feedstock and pretreatment processes and to identify key economic drivers and sustainability metrics.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Screening and qualification methodology for SiC end plug processing methods

Deployment of SiC-ceramic-based fuel cladding for light water reactors requires a hermetic end plug–to–cladding joint that can withstand neutron irradiation during normal operation and maintain integrity during design-basis accidents. Reactor experiments have shown that some SiC composite tubes with SiC end plugs can retain hermeticity after irradiation. However, achieving consistent joint performance under irradiation remains a key challenge. Resolving this issue is essential to enable integral irradiation testing and to demonstrate fuel integrity under commercial-reactor irradiation conditions. This report aims to: (1) provide guidance for designing radiation-tolerant end plug joints for SiC cladding; (2) demonstrate experimental methods to detect processing defects that are unstable under neutron irradiation at light-water-reactor-relevant temperatures and doses; and (3) outline a step-by-step approach for designing and conducting reactor experiments to screen joining methods. The resulting data will be used to improve joint processing and to define critical defect types and sizes that must be detected and eliminated through non-destructive evaluation for quality assurance. Based on prior irradiation experiments at the High Flux Isotope Reactor, differential swelling among the cladding, bonding layer, and end plug was identified as an underlying mechanism for irradiation-induced joint degradation. Accordingly, this effect must be considered in the design of radiation-tolerant joining techniques. In this work, miniature SiC end plug joint specimens irradiated during the previous project were analyzed using X-ray computed tomography to characterize the joint microstructure. Digital volume correlation of the tomography data quantified radiation-induced microstructural changes and enabled evaluation of defect-related risks. Finally, ongoing neutron irradiation efforts using larger specimen volumes are presented. These efforts aim to statistically assess joint performance and to build a microstructure–performance (e.g., leak-tightness) dataset to inform processing improvements and quality control.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Rapid Screening of Liquid Metal Wetting for a Materials Compatibility Library

Wetting behavior of molten metals on solid substrates is a critical phenomenon influencing numerous industrial applications, including welding, anti-corrosion coatings, and metal additive manufacturing (AM). In particular, molten metal jetting (MMJ), an emerging AM technology, requires that the molten metal remain pinned at the nozzle exit. Thus, each new metal requires a specific nozzle material to ensure consistent droplet ejection and deposition, making it important to rapidly identify the appropriate wetting combinations. However, traditional measurements of wetting angles require expensive equipment and only allow one combination of materials to be investigated at a time which can be time consuming. This work introduces a rapid screening method based on sessile droplet experiments to evaluate wetting profiles across multiple metal–substrate combinations simultaneously. This study investigates the wetting interactions of molten Al alloy (Al4008), Cu, and Sn on various ceramic and metal substrates to identify optimal material combinations for MMJ nozzle designs. Results demonstrate that Al4008 achieves wetting on ceramic substrates such as AlN, TiO 2 , and SiC, with varying mechanisms including chemical reactions and weak surface interactions. Additionally, theoretical predictions regarding miscibility gaps and melting point differences were verified for Cu and Sn on refractory metals like Mo and W. Findings from this study contribute to the establishment of a materials compatibility library, enabling the selection of wetting/non-wetting combinations for stable MMJ operation. This resource not only advances MMJ technologies but also provides valuable insights for broader applications such as welding, coating, and printed electronics.

Materials science↗
DOE OSTI2026

Heat Pump Retrofits for Central Plant Hydronic Heating Systems: A Software Toolkit for Screening and Design

Retrofitting existing central plants with high-efficiency heat pump technologies can play a crucial role in achieving long-term planning goals. Modern heat pump technologies are able to use waste heat recovery to meet a building's heating demand, but there is a lack of accessible tools designed for non-HVAC experts, such as building owners, to quickly and easily conduct what-if analysis, e.g., estimating retrofit costs and payback period for their partial or full equipment replacement. This paper introduces an open-source software toolkit designed to facilitate the initial screening and decision-making of heat pump retrofits in existing central plants using a building's yearly load profile from metered or utility bill data. The toolkit evaluates the technical and economic viability of replacing traditional central plant equipment with various options including water-to-water or air-to-water heat pumps, which can provide efficient and lower-cost heating and cooling. It allows users to compare current central plant configurations with retrofit scenarios, assessing energy consumption, life-cycle costs, and environmental impact. The toolkit offers (1) a web-based tool designed for user-friendly access by a broad audience and (2) Python-based source code for researchers and engineers conducting parametric studies and design parameter optimization. The toolkit compares a typical central plant configuration to a configuration that uses a heat pump to supply hydronic heating and cooling. The output metrics include energy consumption and output of each equipment, life-cycle cost analyses and metrics, and environmental impact of the system.

Excell, L↗
DOE OSTI2024

Screening Tool for Equitable Adoption and Deployment of Solar (STEADy Solar)

The Screening Tool for Equitable Adoption and DeploYment of Solar (STEADy Solar) is a database and mapping tool designed to promoting clean energy investments for low-income communities across the United States. The tool indicates locations that may be eligible for the Investment Tax Credit bonus adders defined in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and combines this information with demographics, social vulnerability, solar technical potential, solar economics (modeled net present value), and building counts by use-type. It can be used by states, municipalities, community-based organizations, developers, and researchers to identify sites where solar projects may be economical and where federal incentives may be available to support equitable adoption of solar. Specific values include: Areas eligible for the Energy Communities Tax Credit Bonus Program (including brownfield site counts) Areas eligible for the Low Income Communities Bonus Credit Program (including Tribal Lands, and covered affordable housing project counts) Areas categorized as disadvantaged by Justice40 Commercial and Residential Solar economics characterized by the Net Present Value and Simple Payback Period Total Population, Race, and Ethnicity Median Household Income, Poverty rate, Household Tenure Social Vulnerability Count of buildings, developable rooftop solar capacity (in kWdc) and estimated annual generation potential (in kWh) on four building types: Government General Services, Government Emergency Response, Grade Schools, and Colleges/Universities. The linked report describes the STEADy dataset metadata and presents high level insights from the data. The downloadable and formatted excel dataset makes it easy for users to gain insights for their locations. Supporting .csv and shapefiles provide users with the full data to run their own analyses on equitable solar siting.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Computational screening of fly ash zeolite sorbents for boric acid removal

In the United States, many impoundments at coal-fired power plants contain elevated contaminants like arsenic, boron, barium, and selenium. Zeolites synthesized from fly ash show promise as sorbents for these contaminants. However, optimizing sorption capacity is challenging due to numerous possible topologies, silicon to aluminum (Si/Al) ratios, and cation types. In this study, molecular simulations are used to design cationic zeolites for boric acid adsorption. Force field models based on quantum mechanical calculations (PBE + D2) for Na-, Ca-, Mn-, and Fe-exchanged chabazite and LTA are presented. The new D2FF force fields reproduce DFT energies with about half the error of UFF. Zeolite performance depends on Si/Al ratio and cation type, with low Si/Al ratio chabazite (CHA) and phillipsite (PHI) zeolite frameworks exchanged with Ca 2+ or Na + /Ca 2+ mixtures showing the highest adsorption. In conclusion, these findings suggest tailored fly ash-derived zeolites could provide effective boron removal from leachate ponds.

CCR impoundment↗
DOE OSTI2025

Screening of transition metals for PFAS adsorption: A comparative DFT investigation

Transition metals are promising candidates for catalytic destruction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This study employed density functional theory (DFT) calculations to systematically investigate the adsorption of PFAS, which is a critical step in the catalytic process, onto a group of transition metals, namely Cu, Pd, Pt, and Rh. The investigation considered the influence of different PFAS characteristics, including chain length, functional group (i.e., sulfonic vs. carboxylic), and protonation state (i.e., protonated, anionic, and deprotonated radical) on the adsorption mechanism. Overall, the findings indicated that the adsorption of PFAS on transition metals exhibited thermodynamically favorable energetics, with Rh showing the most favorable adsorption for PFAS. However, the adsorption strength was significantly dependent on the protonation state of PFAS. Cu was the highest electron donor, while Pt was the highest electron acceptor. Results were compared to experimental studies in the literature for qualitative validation.

Adsorption↗