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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 1,603 records · Page 89
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Highlighting the Importance of Authentic Reference Chemicals in the Unambiguous Identification of Unknowns during Routine Sample Analysis─An OPCW Proficiency Test Case

The unequivocal identification of unknown chemicals during routine sample analysis is a constant occurrence in the field of analytical chemistry. The process can be painstakingly tedious, particularly in situations where a tentatively identified unknown may possess isomeric counterparts yielding identical accurate mass values and very similar mass spectra. In this work, we present the experimental process involved in the correct identification of 1,4-oxathiane 4,4-dioxide and differentiation from its constitutional isomer, 2-hydroxyethyl vinyl sulfone, when present in a silica gel matrix featured in the 54th Environmental Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) proficiency test. After discovering that the library-generated mass spectrum for 2-hydroxyethyl vinyl sulfone in a preliminary gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis did not match the one from an authentic reference chemical, we embarked on an unknown structure determination campaign involving GC-MS, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. All of the information obtained, coupled to the synthesis of an authentic reference chemical, was used to determine the identity of the unknown as 1,4-oxathiane 4,4-dioxide. The process described in this work highlights the important role played by authentic reference chemicals in the identification of unknown chemicals during routine sample analysis.

Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2012

Avoiding Steric Congestion in Dendrimer Growth through Proportionate Branching. A Twist on da Vinci's Rule of Tree Branching

In making defect-free macromolecules, the challenge occurs during chemical synthesis. This challenge is especially pronounced in dendrimer synthesis where exponential growth quickly leads to steric congestion. To overcome this difficulty, proportionate branching in dendrimer growth is proposed. In proportionate branching, both the number and the length of branches increase exponentially but in opposite directions to mimic tree growth. The effectiveness of this strategy is demonstrated through the synthesis of a fluorocarbon dendron containing 243 chemically identical fluorine atoms with a MW of 9082 Da. Monodispersity is confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and small-angle X-ray scattering. Moreover, growing different parts proportionately, as nature does, could be a general strategy to achieve defect-free synthesis of macromolecules.

Yue, Xuyi↗
DOE OSTI2013

Effects of electrolyte salts on the performance of Li-O2 batteries

It is well known that the stability of nonaqueous electrolyte is critical for the rechargeable Li-O2 batteries. Although stability of many solvents used in the electrolytes has been investigated, considerably less attention has been paid to the stability of electrolyte salt which is the second major component. Herein, we report the systematic investigation of the stability of seven common lithium salts in tetraglyme used as electrolytes for Li-O2 batteries. The discharge products of Li-O2 reaction were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The performance of Li-O2 batteries was strongly affected by the salt used in the electrolyte. Lithium tetrafluoroborate (LiBF4) and lithium bis(oxalato)borate (LiBOB) decompose and form LiF and lithium borates, respectively during the discharge of Li-O2 batteries. Several other salts, including lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonamide (LiTFSI), lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate (LiTf), lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6), lithium perchlorate (LiClO4) , and lithium bromide (LiBr) led to the discharge products which mainly consisted of Li2O2 and only minor signs of decomposition of LiTFSI, LiTf, LPF6 and LiClO4 were detected. LiBr showed the best stability during the discharge process. As for the cycling performance, LiTf and LiTFSI were the best among the studied salts. In addition to the instability of lithium salts, decomposition of tetraglyme solvent was a more significant factor contributing to the limited cycling stability. Thus a more stable nonaqueous electrolyte including organic solvent and lithium salt still need to be further developed to reach a fully reversible Li-O2 battery.

cycling stability↗
DOE OSTI2013

Silicon Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) of Lithium Ion Battery Characterized by Microscopy and Spectroscopy

The surface reactions of electrolytes with a silicon anode in lithium ion cells have been investigated. The investigation utilizes two novel techniques that are enabled by the use of binder-free silicon (BF-Si) nanoparticle anodes. The first method, transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, allows straightforward analysis of the BF-Si solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). The second method utilizes multi-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of D2O extracts from the cycled anodes. The TEM and NMR data are complemented by XPS and FTIR data, which are routinely used for SEI studies. Coin cells (BF-Si/Li) were cycled in electrolytes containing LiPF6 salt and ethylene carbonate or fluoroethylene carbonate solvent. Capacity retention was significantly better for cells cycled with LiPF6/FEC electrolyte than for cells cycled with LiPF6/EC electrolyte. Our unique combination of techniques establishes that for LiPF6/EC electrolyte the BF-Si SEI continuously grows during the first 20 cycles and the SEI becomes integrated with the BF-Si nanoparticles. The SEI predominantly contains lithium ethylene dicarbonate, LiF, and LixSiOy. BF-Si electrodes cycled with LiPF6/FEC electrolyte have a different behavior; the BF-Si nanoparticles remain relatively distinct from the SEI. The SEI predominantly contains LiF, LixSiOy, and an insoluble polymeric species.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2013

Dielectric Relaxation and Rheological Behavior of Supramolecular Polymeric Liquid

A model self-complementary supramolecular polymer based on thymine and diamidopyridine triple hydrogen-bonding motifs has been synthesized, and its dielectric and rheological behavior has been investigated. The formation of supramolecular polymers has been unequivocally demonstrated by nuclear magnetic resonance, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry with traveling wave ion mobility separation, dielectric spectroscopy, and rheology. The dynamical behaviors of this associating polymer generally conform to those of type-A polymers, with a low-frequency chain relaxation and a high-frequency relaxation visible in both rheological and dielectric measurements. The dielectric chain relaxation shows the ideal symmetric Debye-like shape, resembling the peculiar features of hydrogen-bonding monoalcohols. Detailed analysis shows that there exists a weak decoupling between the mechanical terminal relaxation and dielectric Debye-like relaxation. The origin of the Debye-like dielectric relaxation is further discussed in the light of monoalcohols.

Lou, Nan↗
DOE OSTI2022

Characterization and Geological Implications of Precambrian Calcite-Hosted Phosphate

Constraints on marine phosphate availability and cycling directly inform our understanding of long-term biological evolution. However, early Earth phosphate records are sparse, biased toward siliciclastic samples, and susceptible to post-depositional modification. Well-preserved shallow marine inorganic carbonate precipitates provide a complementary yet understudied record of phosphate cycling. We combined micro-X ray fluorescence mapping, X-ray absorption, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy on samples of Precambrian syndepositional herringbone calcite (HBC) and microspar to characterize phosphorus speciation and distribution in these carbonate fabrics. Phosphorus spectroscopy from synthetic calcite, HBC, and microspar, is qualitatively consistent with a disordered distribution of phosphate. These characteristics are diagnostic of calcite-hosted phosphate, which is pervasive at low concentrations in HBC and microspar. This study provides evidence that ancient, well-preserved carbonate fabrics retain phosphate sourced from seawater and highlights the potential for an unaltered archive of marine phosphate concentration over geologic time.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Tonian Carbonates Record Phosphate-Rich Shallow Seas

The early-middle Neoproterozoic is thought to have witnessed significant perturbations to marine P cycling, in turn facilitating the rise of eukaryote-dominated primary production. However, with few robust constraints on aqueous P concentrations, current understanding of Neoproterozoic P cycling is generally model-dependent. To provide new geochemical constraints, we combined microanalytical data sets with solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, synchrotron-based X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure spectroscopy, and micro-X-ray Fluorescence imaging to characterize the speciation and distribution of P in Tonian shallow-water carbonate rocks. These data reflect shallow water phosphate concentrations 10–100× higher than modern systems, supporting the hypothesis that tectonically-driven influxes in P periodically initiated kinetically-controlled CaCO 3 deposition, in turn destabilizing marine carbonate chemistry, climate, and nutrient inventories. Alongside these observations, a new compilation and statistical analysis of mudstone geochemistry data indicates that, in parallel, C org and P burial increased across later Tonian continental margins until becoming decoupled at the close of the Tonian, implicating widespread N-limitation triggered by increasing atmospheric O 2 .

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

nmrrr : A Reproducible Workflow for Binning and Visualizing NMR Spectra From Environmental Samples

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a useful tool for detection and identification of molecular structural information, with increasing applications in environmental sciences. NMR instrument outputs are however heterogeneous and require extensive post-processing, creating barriers to their use and application by non-specialists. Here, we report on a new open-source R package, nmrrr, that processes and visualizes spectral data obtained from one-dimensional solution-state and solid-state NMR experiments; the package also performs relevant calculations commonly applied in natural organic matter communities, such as computing the relative abundance of various functional groups. We document the package's installation, dependencies, and functions; and provide a standard workflow for processing NMR data. This package is currently available on CRAN and GitHub, and community contributions are welcome.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

Drug design from the cryptic inhibitor envelope

Conformational dynamics plays an important role in enzyme catalysis, allosteric regulation of protein functions and assembly of macromolecular complexes. Despite these well-established roles, such information has yet to be exploited for drug design. Here we show by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy that inhibitors of LpxC—an essential enzyme of the lipid A biosynthetic pathway in Gram-negative bacteria and a validated novel antibiotic target—access alternative, minor population states in solution in addition to the ligand conformation observed in crystal structures. These conformations collectively delineate an inhibitor envelope that is invisible to crystallography, but is dynamically accessible by small molecules in solution. Drug design exploiting such a hidden inhibitor envelope has led to the development of potent antibiotics with inhibition constants in the single-digit picomolar range. The principle of the cryptic inhibitor envelope approach may be broadly applicable to other lead optimization campaigns to yield improved therapeutics.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2014

Hydride ions in oxide hosts hidden by hydroxide ions

What is the true oxidation state of formally ‘H – ’ ions incorporated in an oxide host? This question frequently arises in connection with chemical shifts of 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, which exhibit values typically attributed to H + . To resolve this controversy, we systematically investigate the link between geometrical structure and chemical shift of H – ions in an oxide host, mayenite, with a combination of experimental and ab initio approaches. We demonstrate that the electron density near the hydrogen nucleus in an OH – ion (formally H + state) exceeds that in an H – ion. This behaviour is the opposite to that expected from formal valences. We deduce a relationship between the chemical shift of H – and the distance from the H – ion to the coordinating electropositive cation. This relationship is pivotal for resolving H – species that are masked by various states of H + ions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2017

High magnesium mobility in ternary spinel chalcogenides

Magnesium batteries appear a viable alternative to overcome the safety and energy density limitations faced by current lithium-ion technology. Furthermore, the development of a competitive magnesium battery is plagued by the existing notion of poor magnesium mobility in solids. We demonstrate by using ab initio calculations, nuclear magnetic resonance, and impedance spectroscopy measurements that substantial magnesium ion mobility can indeed be achieved in close-packed frameworks (~ 0.01-0.1 mS cm -1 at 298 K), specifically in the magnesium scandium selenide spinel. Our theoretical predictions also indicate that high magnesium ion mobility is possible in other chalcogenide spinels, opening the door for the realization of other magnesium solid ionic conductors and the eventual development of an all-solid-state magnesium battery.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Mechanistic insight into TRIP13-catalyzed Mad2 structural transition and spindle checkpoint silencing

The spindle checkpoint maintains genomic stability and prevents aneuploidy. Unattached kinetochores convert the latent open conformer of the checkpoint protein Mad2 (O-Mad2) to the active closed conformer (C-Mad2), bound to Cdc20. C-Mad2–Cdc20 is incorporated into the mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC), which inhibits the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C). The C-Mad2-binding protein p31 comet and the ATPase TRIP13 promote MCC disassembly and checkpoint silencing. Here, using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, we show that TRIP13 and p31 comet catalyze the conversion of C-Mad2 to O-Mad2, without disrupting its stably folded core. We determine the crystal structure of human TRIP13, and identify functional TRIP13 residues that mediate p31 comet –Mad2 binding and couple ATP hydrolysis to local unfolding of Mad2. TRIP13 and p31 comet prevent APC/C inhibition by MCC components, but cannot reactivate APC/C already bound to MCC. Therefore, TRIP13–p31 comet intercepts and disassembles free MCC not bound to APC/C through mediating the local unfolding of the Mad2 C-terminal region.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Uniaxial strain control of spin-polarization in multicomponent nematic order of BaFe 2 As 2

The iron-based high temperature superconductors exhibit a rich phase diagram reflecting a complex interplay between spin, lattice, and orbital degrees of freedom. The nematic state observed in these compounds epitomizes this complexity, by entangling a real-space anisotropy in the spin fluctuation spectrum with ferro-orbital order and an orthorhombic lattice distortion. A subtle and less-explored facet of the interplay between these degrees of freedom arises from the sizable spin-orbit coupling present in these systems, which translates anisotropies in real space into anisotropies in spin space. We present nuclear magnetic resonance studies, which reveal that the magnetic fluctuation spectrum in the paramagnetic phase of BaFe 2 As 2 acquires an anisotropic response in spin-space upon application of a tetragonal symmetry-breaking strain field. Lastly, our results unveil an internal spin structure of the nematic order parameter, indicating that electronic nematic materials may offer a route to magneto-mechanical control.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Expanding the chemistry of borates with functional [BO 2 ]- anions

More than 3900 crystalline borates, including borate minerals and synthetic inorganic borates, in addition to a wealth of industrially-important boron-containing glasses, have been discovered and characterized. Of these compounds, 99.9 % contain only the traditional triangular BO 3 and tetrahedral BO 4 units, which polymerize into superstructural motifs. Herein, a mixed metal K 5 Ba 2 (B 10 O 17 ) 2 (BO 2 ) with linear BO 2 structural units was obtained, pushing the boundaries of structural diversity and providing a direct strategy toward the maximum thresholds of birefringence for optical materials design. 11 B solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a ubiquitous tool in the study of glasses and optical materials; here, density functional theory-based NMR crystallography guided the direct characterization of BO 2 structural units. The full anisotropic shift and quadrupolar tensors of linear BO 2 were extracted from K 5 Ba 2 (B 10 O 17 ) 2 (BO 2 ) containing BO 2 , BO 3 , and BO 4 and serve as guides to the identification of this powerful moiety in future and, potentially, previously-characterized borate minerals, ceramics, and glasses.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Integrating genomics and metabolomics for scalable non-ribosomal peptide discovery

Non-Ribosomal Peptides (NRPs) represent a biomedically important class of natural products that include a multitude of antibiotics and other clinically used drugs. NRPs are not directly encoded in the genome but are instead produced by metabolic pathways encoded by biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). Since the existing genome mining tools predict many putative NRPs synthesized by a given BGC, it remains unclear which of these putative NRPs are correct and how to identify post-assembly modifications of amino acids in these NRPs in a blind mode, without knowing which modifications exist in the sample. To address this challenge, here we report NRPminer, a modification-tolerant tool for NRP discovery from large (meta)genomic and mass spectrometry datasets. We show that NRPminer is able to identify many NRPs from different environments, including four previously unreported NRP families from soil-associated microbes and NRPs from human microbiota. Furthermore, in this work we demonstrate the anti-parasitic activities and the structure of two of these NRP families using direct bioactivity screening and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, illustrating the power of NRPminer for discovering bioactive NRPs.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Role of backbone strain in de novo design of complex α/β protein structures

Abstract We previously elucidated principles for designing ideal proteins with completely consistent local and non-local interactions which have enabled the design of a wide range of new αβ-proteins with four or fewer β-strands. The principles relate local backbone structures to supersecondary-structure packing arrangements of α-helices and β-strands. Here, we test the generality of the principles by employing them to design larger proteins with five- and six- stranded β-sheets flanked by α-helices. The initial designs were monomeric in solution with high thermal stability, and the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) structure of one was close to the design model, but for two others the order of strands in the β-sheet was swapped. Investigation into the origins of this strand swapping suggested that the global structures of the design models were more strained than the NMR structures. We incorporated explicit consideration of global backbone strain into the design methodology, and succeeded in designing proteins with the intended unswapped strand arrangements. These results illustrate the value of experimental structure determination in guiding improvement of de novo design, and the importance of consistency between local, supersecondary, and global tertiary interactions in determining protein topology. The augmented set of principles should inform the design of larger functional proteins.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Production of fast-charge Zn-based aqueous batteries via interfacial adsorption of ion-oligomer complexes

Abstract Aqueous zinc batteries are attracting interest because of their potential for cost-effective and safe electricity storage. However, metallic zinc exhibits only moderate reversibility in aqueous electrolytes. To circumvent this issue, we study aqueous Zn batteries able to form nanometric interphases at the Zn metal/liquid electrolyte interface, composed of an ion-oligomer complex. In Zn||Zn symmetric cell studies, we report highly reversible cycling at high current densities and capacities (e.g., 160 mA cm −2 ; 2.6 mAh cm −2 ). By means of quartz-crystal microbalance, nuclear magnetic resonance, and voltammetry measurements we show that the interphase film exists in a dynamic equilibrium with oligomers dissolved in the electrolyte. The interphase strategy is applied to aqueous Zn||I 2 and Zn||MnO 2 cells that are charged/discharged for 12,000 cycles and 1000 cycles, respectively, at a current density of 160 mA cm −2 and capacity of approximately 0.85 mAh cm −2 . Finally, we demonstrate that Zn||I 2 -carbon pouch cells (9 cm 2 area) cycle stably and deliver a specific energy of 151 Wh/kg (based on the total mass of active materials in the electrode) at a charge current density of 56 mA cm −2 .

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗