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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
NASA NTRS1998

NASA Scatterometer Provides Global Ocean-Surface Wind Fields with More Structures than Numerical Weather Prediction

The major differences between monthly-mean ocean-surface wind fields derived from the observations of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Scatterometer (NSCAT) and produced by the operational numerical weather prediction (NWP) model of the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts are found in coastal and equatorial regions, where the sharp changes are smoothed over in NWP products.

scatterometer ocean surface wind weather predictio↗
DOE OSTI2015

Surface chemistry of InP ridge structures etched in Cl{sub 2}-based plasma analyzed with angular XPS

Two x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy configurations are proposed to analyze the surface chemistry of micron-scale InP ridge structures etched in chlorine-based inductively coupled plasma (ICP). Either a classical or a grazing configuration allows to retrieve information about the surface chemistry of the bottom surface and sidewalls of the etched features. The procedure is used to study the stoichiometry of the etched surface as a function of ridge aspect ratio for Cl{sub 2}/Ar and Cl{sub 2}/H{sub 2} plasma chemistries. The results show that the bottom surface and the etched sidewalls are P-rich, and indicate that the P-enrichment mechanism is rather chemically driven. Results also evidence that adding H{sub 2} to Cl{sub 2} does not necessarily leads to a more balanced surface stoichiometry. This is in contrast with recent experimental results obtained with the HBr ICP chemistry for which fairly stoichiometric surfaces have been obtained.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Epitaxial growth, magnetoresistance, and electronic band structure of GdSb magnetic semimetal films

Motivated by observations of extreme magnetoresistance (XMR) in bulk crystals of rare-earth monopnictide (RE-V) compounds and emerging applications in novel spintronic and plasmonic devices based on thin-film semimetals, we have investigated the electronic band structure and transport behavior of epitaxial GdSb thin films grown on III-V semiconductor surfaces. The Gd 3 + ion in GdSb has a high spin S=7/2 and no orbital angular momentum, serving as a model system for studying the effects of antiferromagnetic order and strong exchange coupling on the resulting Fermi surface and magnetotransport properties of RE-Vs. Here, we present a surface and structural characterization study mapping the optimal synthesis window of thin epitaxial GdSb films grown on III-V lattice-matched buffer layers via molecular-beam epitaxy. To determine the factors limiting XMR in RE-V thin films and provide a benchmark for band-structure predictions of topological phases of RE-Vs, the electronic band structure of GdSb thin films is studied, comparing carrier densities extracted from magnetotransport, angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), and density-functional theory (DFT) calculations. ARPES shows a hole-carrier rich, topologically trivial, semimetallic band structure close to complete electron-hole compensation, with quantum confinement effects in the thin films observed through the presence of quantum-well states. DFT-predicted Fermi wave vectors are in excellent agreement with values obtained from quantum oscillations observed in magnetic field-dependent resistivity measurements. An electron-rich Hall coefficient is measured despite the higher hole-carrier density, attributed to the higher electron Hall mobility. The carrier mobilities are limited by surface and interface scattering, resulting in lower magnetoresistance than that measured for bulk crystals.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Effect of high temperature preoxidation treatment on the oxidation behavior of MoSi 2 - and WSi 2 –Al 2 O 3 composites

Composites of 30 vol% MoSi 2 -70 vol% Al 2 O 3 and 30 vol% WSi 2 -70 vol% Al 2 O 3 were prepared via sintering at 1600 °C in argon. The high-temperature preoxidation treatments were applied at 1000°-1200 °C for 10–120 min in air. The non-isothermal oxidation tests were conducted in air at temperatures ranging between 50° and 870 °C to study and understand the influence of the alumina phase and preoxidation process on the low-temperature oxidation behavior. The optical and scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the surface layers formed. The oxidation-induced mass gains were substantially reduced by 82.1–99.8%, implying their enhanced oxidation resistance. This was due to the formation of highly dense, protective surface layers with a sufficient thickness (3.1–14.2 μm). The structural and surface analyses revealed their complex chemistries, since the ternary (Mo–Si–Al, W–Si–Al) intermetallic, mullite, alumina and silica phases with high oxidation resistances were identified within these surface features. In addition, the high-temperature electrical properties of the composites were highly preserved after the preoxidation treatment, and their electrical conductivities were measured as 45.1–78.6 S/cm at 800 °C and 40.1–69.1 S/cm at 900 °C.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

A topological screening heuristic for low-energy, high-index surfaces

Robust ab initio investigations of nanoparticle surface properties require a method to identify candidate low-energy surface facets a priori . By assuming that low-energy surfaces are planes with high atomic density, we devise an efficient algorithm to screen for low-energy surface orientations, even if they have high ( hkl ) miller indices. We successfully predict the observed low-energy, high-index {$10\overline{12} $} and {$10\bar{1}4 $} surfaces of hematite α-Fe 2 O 3 , the {311} surfaces of cuprite Cu 2 O, and the {112} surfaces of anatase TiO 2 . We further tabulate candidate low-energy surface orientations for nine of the most common binary oxide structures. Screened surfaces are found to be generally applicable across isostructural compounds with varying chemistries, although relative surface energies between facets may vary based on the preferred coordination of the surface atoms.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2003

Raman-atomic force microscopy of the ommatidial surfaces of Dipteran compound eyes

The ommatidial lens surfaces of the compound eyes in several species of files (Insecta: Diptera) and a related order (Mecoptera) were analyzed using a recently developed Raman-atomic force microscope. We demonstrate in this work that the atomic force microscope (AFM) is a potentially useful instrument for gathering phylogenetic data and that the newly developed Raman-AFM may extend this application by revealing nanometer-scale surface chemistry. This is the first demonstration of apertureless near-field Raman spectroscopy on an intact biological surface. For Chrysopilus testaceipes Bigot (Rhagionidae), this reveals unique cerebral cortex-like surface ridges with periodic variation in height and surface chemistry. Most other Brachyceran flies, and the "Nematoceran" Sylvicola fenestralis (Scopoli) (Anisopodidae), displayed the same morphology, while other taxa displayed various other characteristics, such as a nodule-like (Tipula (Triplicitipula) sp. (Tipulidae)) or coalescing nodule-like (Tabanus punctifer Osten Sacken (Tabanidae)) morphology, a smooth morphology with distinct pits and grooves (Dilophus orbatus (Say) (Bibionidae)), or an entirely smooth surface (Bittacus chlorostigma MacLachlan (Mecoptera: Bittacidae)). The variation in submicrometer structure and surface chemistry provides a new information source of potential phylogenetic importance, suggesting the Raman-atomic force microscope could provide a new tool useful to systematic and evolutionary inquiry.

Eye/ultrastructure↗
NASA NTRS2018

Spatial Correlation Structures in SMAP Near-Surface Soil Moisture (How Spatially Correlated are the Temporal Variations of Soil Moisture at Different Locations? and Why Is This of Interest?)

Spatial correlation structures can describe the degree to which soil moisture at a specified location co-varies in time with that at other, remote locations. Using four years of warm season SMAP Level 2 near-surface soil moisture data, we compute these spatial correlation structures for points across North America. The character of these structures is seen to differ geographically; the structures found for the west-central US, for example, are significantly more spatially extensive. We then demonstrate how these structures can potentially be used to reconstruct soil moisture fields during the pre-SMAP era. In this exercise, we consider as "truth" the soil moistures produced in a long-term offline land surface model simulation (1980-2014) that utilizes precipitation forcing based on a high density of precipitation gauges. Then, for a given location within the continent, we construct an"estimated" soil moisture time series based solely on historical soil moisture information simulated at least 300 km distant from the location, using the SMAP-based spatial correlation structures to determine how to make best use of the remote information. The reconstructed soil moistures are found to have significant skill relative to the assumed truth, suggesting that the same approach, when applied in areas of low rain gauge density (i.e., in areas for which historically simulated soil moistures are necessarily inaccurate), could provide useful historical soil moisture estimates through the SMAP-guided extraction of relevant information from neighboring gauged regions.

Koster, Randal↗
DOE OSTI2014

Reversible modulation of electric transport properties by oxygen absorption and releasing on Nb:SrTiO{sub 3} surface

Pt Schottky contacts on (001)-orientated Nb-doped SrTiO{sub 3} (NSTO) in both ambient air and vacuum were investigated by the conductive atomic force microscope. The co-existed TiO{sub 2} and SrO termination layers were identified on the terrace-structured NSTO surface, where the former possessed a higher forward current than the latter. In ambient air, the barrier height of Pt/NSTO Schottky junction exhibited periodical variation with cyclic terrace plane and step sites, whereas it became homogeneous in ambient vacuum. We suggested that the oxygen absorption and releasing of surface dangling bonds were the origin for reversible changes in transport properties, which indicates a feasible approach for the surface modulation and band structure tailoring of NSTO based heterojunctions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2024

Data Format and Descriptions for the Alabama Carbon Storage: Data Sharing and Engagement Project

The Alabama Carbon Storage: Data Sharing and Engagement (ACS-DSE) project seeks to develop publicly accessible geologic carbon storage models and data across the southern Gulf Coastal Plain of Alabama. The public online platform developed for this project will include geologic, geophysical, infrastructure, and other relevant datasets and geologic models of the study area. Datasets, model surfaces (e.g. structural contour maps, isolith maps, porosity maps), and infrastructure data (e.g. offshore pipelines, field boundaries) will be downloadable in commonly used file formats. The anticipated primary geologic datasets are well headers, formation tops, average reservoir properties, and core analyses; these will be available as commaseparated values (CSV) text files and MS Excel workbooks. Geophysical logs will be available in Log ASCII Standard (LAS) file format. Modeled surfaces, such as structure contour maps, will be available in ArcGIS formats and text files. Infrastructure data will be available as ArcGIS shapefiles. This document provides information on the data sources and attributes of the datasets.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2020

Asymmetric articles with a porous substrate and a polymeric coating extending into the substrate and methods of making the same

Asymmetric articles are described including a porous substrate with two opposing major surfaces and a porous structure extending between the surfaces, and a polymeric coating on one of the major surfaces and extending into the porous structure to a depth of the porous structure. Methods for making an asymmetric composite article are also provided, including providing a porous substrate, treating the porous substrate with a plasma treatment or a corona treatment from one major surface to a depth of the porous structure between the two major surfaces. The method further includes applying a coating solution to the treated porous substrate and drying the coating solution to form a composite asymmetric composite article having a polymeric coating on one major surface and extending into the porous structure to the depth of the treated porous structure.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

The surface stability of Cr 2 O 3 (0 0 0 1)

The surface of chromia (Cr 2 O 3 ) has a surface electronic structure distinct from the bulk and a packing density distinct from the bulk. More than a demarcation between the solid and the vacuum, the surface differs from the bulk of chromia, not just because of a partial occupancy of chromium sites, but also because of an increased number of unoccupied surface oxygen sites (vacancy sites), evident in angle-resolved core level photoemission. In spite of the structural differences that exist at the surface, there is, as yet, no evidence that these complications affect the surface Debye temperature beyond the most simple of assumptions regarding the lower coordination of the surface. Using low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), the effective surface Debye temperature (similar to 490 K) is found to be lower than the bulk (similar to 645 K) Debye temperature of Cr 2 O 3 (0 0 0 1). This surface effective Debye temperature, indicative of vibrations along the surface normal, uncorrected for anharmonic effects, has a value reduced from the effective bulk Debye temperature yet close to the value root 2 expected from a simple mean field argument.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2025

Fine-scale vegetation composition and structure shape spatiotemporal variation in surface albedo across a low Arctic tundra landscape

The unprecedented rate of warming in the Arctic is driving changes in the structure and composition of tundra vegetation. Increases in deciduous tall shrub cover, height, and density are of particular concern, as these changes alter local surface albedo in ways that could amplify effects on the regional surface energy budget (SEB). Despite this importance, significant uncertainties remain in understanding the interplay between fine-scale vegetation patterns and emergent albedo dynamics across space and time. Here, we address these uncertainties by (1) quantifying spatiotemporal variation in surface shortwave albedo and (2) determining the relative influence of fine-scale vegetation composition, structure, and environmental conditions on albedo across a representative low-Arctic tundra landscape on Alaska’s Seward Peninsula. To do this, we synthesized multi-scale, multi-platform remote sensing observations, including a novel Landsat-derived albedo time series, a fine-scale map of Arctic plant functional type (PFT) fractional cover, and airborne LiDAR estimates of canopy height and topography. We show that there are substantial reductions in winter albedo for pixels dominated by tall, woody PFTs (28.13%) relative to pixels dominated by non-woody vegetation, but almost no change in summer albedo (3% increase). Further, we identified a unimodal trend in the relationship between canopy height and the timing of the springtime transition from high (snowy) to low (leafy) albedo (peak at 5.5 m), possibly because of competing ‘snow-fence’ and ‘protrusion’ snow-shrub interactions. To explore the primary drivers of albedo, we constructed a random forest model and found that canopy height and the fractional cover of woody PFTs were as- or more important predictors of winter albedo than topographic features. These findings provide strong evidence for the impacts of local vegetation characteristics on regional surface albedo, highlighting the need for better quantification of snow-shrub interactions to accurately predict the Arctic’s SEB under future environmental change.

Arctic↗
DOE OSTI2017

Structural Evolution of a Ni Alloy Surface During High-Temperature Oxidation

We show that considerable structural transformations occur at a Ni alloy surface during the transient stages of high-temperature oxidation. This was demonstrated by exposing the alloy to high-temperature CO 2 for short times at both atmospheric and supercritical pressures. A protective Cr-rich oxide layer formed after only 5 min at 700 °C and persisted for longer exposures up to 500 h. Voids formed and grew over time by the condensation of metal vacancies generated during oxidation, while the alloy surface recrystallized after sufficient oxidation had occurred. The oxygen potential established at the oxide/alloy interface led to oxidation along the newly formed grain boundaries as well as adjacent to and inside of the voids. Al, the most stable oxide-former and present at low concentration in the alloy, was preferentially oxidized in these regions. Furthermore, the results provide an improved understanding of the internal oxidation of Al and its role in enhancing scale adhesion for this class of Ni alloys.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
NASA NTRS1994

(abstract) A Low-Cost Mission to 2060 Chiron Based on the Pluto Fast Flyby

The Pluto Fast Flyby-based mission to Chiron described in this paper is a low cost, scientifically rewarding, focused mission in the outer solar system. The proposed mission will make a flyby of 2060 Chiron, an active 'comet' with over 10(sup 4) times the mass of Halley, and an eccentric, Saturn-crossing orbit which ranges from 8.5 to 19 AU. This mission concept achieves the flyby 4.2 years after launch on a direct trajectory from Earth, is independent of Jupiter launch windows, and fits within Discovery cost guidelines. This mission offers the scientific opportunity to examine a class of object left unsampled by the trail-blazing Mariners, Pioneers, Voyagers, and missions to Halley. Spacecraft reconnaissance of Chiron addresses unique objectives relating to cometary science, other small bodies, the structure of quasi-bound atmospheres on modest-sized bodies, and the origin of primitive bodies and the giant planets. Owing to Chiron's large size (180<D<370 km), unique nature, and unusual orbit, this mission is likely to draw significant public interest. As described by COMPLEX, the SSEC, and later the SSES, flybys are the appropriate scale missions for initial reconnaissance missions. Carrying three sophisticated instruments, the proposed flyby will return critical data about Chiron's size, shape, polar obliquity, atmosphere, surface morphology, surface composition, internal structure, surface activity (including the nature of Chiron's outbursts), and origin. Engineering analysis indicates that the spacecraft is capable of navigating to and encountering Chiron at close approach distances of less than 5 000 km, well inside the 50 000 to 150 000 km coma, and perhaps within the collisional chemistry zone of the coma. The low cost of the proposed Chiron mission is based on the opportunity to use the planned Pluto Flyby spare spacecraft and a Proton Expendable Launch Vehicle (ELV) (the pluto spacecraft is being designed to be compatible with a Proton launch). Backup launch opportunities on Delta II and Atlas ELVs are available. The Pluto Fast Flyby mission plans to develop a low cost ($150M), lightweight (<150 kg) outer planet spacecraft which is well suited to flyby reconnaissance in the outer solar system. This Chiron flyby mission is designed to leverage SSED's Pluto spacecraft investment into a scientifically valuable successor mission within the Discovery cost cap. Taking advantage of the spare spacecraft, we estimate the Discovery Chiron intercept mission can be launched for less than $100 M. We believe this makes a highly attractive proposal, which maintains US presence and leadership in the study of the outer solar system, and enables the first-time exploration of a wholly new class of planetary target, an outer solar system planetesimal.

2060 Chiron planetesimal flyby Pluto Fast Flyby sp↗
DOE OSTI2020

Enlarged Nonclosure of Surface Energy Balance With Increasing Atmospheric Instabilities Linked to Changes in Coherent Structures

The nonclosure of surface energy balance remains an outstanding problem in eddy covariance (EC) measurements of land-surface fluxes of heat, water vapor, and CO 2 . Our data collected from an EC tower over a semiarid sagebrush ecosystem indicate that under unstable atmospheric conditions, the nonclosure becomes increased with increasing instability, consistent with many other studies. It is demonstrated that the increased nonclosure is not caused by the inadequate sampling of large-scale turbulent motions using a 30-min averaging interval, though the scales of turbulent motions dominating sensible and latent heat fluxes become enlarged with increasing instability. Quadrant analysis is then used to reveal that the flux contributions from ejections remain nearly constant with increasing instability, whereas the flux contributions from sweeps are reduced and their time fractions increase. Our results imply that the increased nonclosure of surface energy balance is associated with changes in turbulent structures including their dominant time scales and flux contributions of ejections and sweeps as the atmospheric instability increases, which require further studies using vertically distributed observations and/or large eddy simulations.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Edge States Drive Exciton Dissociation in Ruddlesden–Popper Lead Halide Perovskite Thin Films

Efficient photovoltaic cells based on thin films of solution-processed 2D Ruddlesden–Popper hybrid perovskites (RPPs) represent an exciting breakthrough due to their enhanced tunability and chemical stability relative to those fabricated from 3D phases. However, reports of efficient charge separation and current collection are in apparent contradiction with the well-known enhancement of the exciton binding energy in multilayered halide perovskites, which should lower the device’s internal quantum efficiency and voltage. This controversy has led to various proposals for the electronic and physical structure of RPP thin films, including phase inhomogeneity as the driving force for exciton dissociation and transport. We address this apparent paradox in high-quality hot-cast RPP films by correlating ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy with X-ray scattering measurements. We show that a hot-casting fabrication method produces highly phase pure n = 3 (BA) 2 (MA) n-1 Pb n I 3n+1 RPP structures. The high-phase purity and large grain sizes allow us to observe vertical transport of excitons via a diffusive process and allow us to determine that charge separation is primarily driven by dissociation at surface localized subgap electronic states. Furthermore, we analyze the differential absorption kinetics in films of varying thickness to directly determine that the excitonic diffusion constant is ~0.18 cm 2 s –1 . We propose that a surface localized structural distortion, observed using surface selective grazing incidence X-ray scattering measurements, is responsible for the creation of the surface localized defect states. We find that the density and spatial distribution of these defect states is a function of preparation conditions.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1976

Performance of LI-1542 reusable surface insulation system in a hypersonic stream

The thermal and structural performance LI-1542 reusable surface insulation (RSI) tiles was investigated. The test panel was designed to represent part of the surface structure on a space shuttle orbiter fuselage along a 1250 K isotherm. Aerothermal tests were conducted at a free-stream Mach number of 6.6, a total temperature of 1820 K, Reynolds numbers of 2 millon and 5 million per meter, and dynamic pressures of 26 and 65 kPa. The RSI tiles demonstrated good thermal protection and structural integrity. High temperatures were caused by misalinement in tile height, offset the tile longitudinal alinement, and leakage around thermal seals when differential pressure existed across the panel. The damage tolerance of LI-1542 RSI appeared high. The tile coating crazed early in the test program, but this did not effect the tile integrity. Erosion of the tile edges occurred at forward-facing steps and at the ends of longitudinal gaps because of particle impacts and flow shear.

Hunt, L. R.↗
DOE OSTI2015

Structural and Functional Analysis of Surface Proteins from an A(H3N8) Influenza Virus Isolated from New England Harbor Seals

In late 2011, an A(H3N8) influenza virus infection resulted in the deaths of 162 New England harbor seals. Virus sequence analysis and virus receptor binding studies highlighted potential markers responsible for mammalian adaptation and a mixed receptor binding preference. Here, we present a detailed structural and biochemical analysis of the surface antigens of the virus. Results obtained with recombinant proteins for both the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase indicate a true avian receptor binding preference. Although the detection of this virus in new species highlights an increased potential for cross-species transmission, our results indicate that the A(H3N8) virus currently poses a low risk to humans. Cross-species transmission of zoonotic influenza viruses increases public health concerns. Here, we report a molecular and structural study of the major surface proteins from an A(H3N8) influenza virus isolated from New England harbor seals. Furthermore, the results improve our understanding of these viruses as they evolve and provide important information to aid ongoing risk assessment analyses as these zoonotic influenza viruses continue to circulate and adapt to new hosts.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗