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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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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Achieving 20.1% Efficiency in Organic Solar Cells Through Interconnected Fibrillar Networks via Local Molecular Stacking

ABSTRACT The performance of organic solar cells (OSCs) is governed by how molecular packing evolves into interconnected networks that facilitate exciton dissociation and charge transport. Using an all‐small‐molecule blend DR3TSBDT:Y6 as a model system, we study how local molecular stacking evolves into performance‐relevant morphology during solvent vapor annealing (SVA) and subsequent thermal annealing (TA). SVA promotes end‐to‐end stacking of amorphous acceptors to form interconnected fibrils, while TA compacts inter‐fibril spacing without disrupting favorable local order. Such molecular‐to‐morphological refinements broaden light absorption, enhance charge transport, and markedly improve device efficiency. Extending this approach to additional blend systems (D18:Y6, D18:L8‐BO, and DR3TSBDT:L8‐BO) yields similar structural evolution and performance gains, with the D18:L8‐BO system achieving up to 20.10% PCE. Our study establishes control over local stacking in amorphous acceptors into fibrillar networks as a general and effective route to realize high‐performance OSCs.

Wu, Junying↗
DOE OSTI2026

Transition from Vehicular to Structural Ionic Transport in Electrified Alkali Aqueous Solutions

A molecular understanding of the solvation and dynamics of ions under static electric fields is crucial for modelling a wide range of natural and technological processes. Yet, traditional simulation methods suffer from a trade-off that has to be made between accuracy and statistical convergence. To bridge this gap, herein we extend our recently introduced Perturbed Neural Network Potential Molecular Dynamics (PNNP MD) approach to investigate the solvation structures and ionic transport mechanisms of electrified alkali cationic solutions. We obtain ionic conductivities for Li+, Na+ and Cs+ from the field dependence of the ionic current density in good agreement with experiment. Surprisingly, the migration mechanism is found to be strikingly different for the three ions despite their similar ionic conductivities. While Li+ conducts predominantly through vehicular migration of a stable 4-fold coordinated ion at all field strengths, Cs+ conducts strictly through a structural diffusion mechanism, where 9-12 transient first shell water coordination bonds are broken and renewed. Notably, aqueous Na+ emerges as a “Goldilocks” ion: its ion-water interactions are strong enough to maintain distinct 5-6 fold coordination shells at zero field (unlike Cs+) yet labile enough to be strongly perturbed by electric fields (unlike Li+). As a consequence, we observe an electric field-induced transition from vehicular to structural ionic transport for Na+ that is accompanied by a marked increase in the ionic current density. Our results imply that the conductance mechanism of ions with moderate ion-solvent interactions can be effectively tuned by external electric fields.

Joll, Kit↗
DOE OSTI2026

Evaluating alternative steam generation pathways in the food industry

Steam generation in the food sector requires substantial energy and cost expenditures, requiring nearly half of its energy intake. Here, we used life cycle assessment and life cycle cost assessment to investigate the cost and energy impacts of steam generating alternatives: NG, biomass and hydrogen boilers and grid-supplied and self-generated electric steam generation systems (electric boilers, renewable thermal energy storage and industrial heat pumps). The analysis starts with a set of average U.S. conditions, where biomass boilers are the most cost-competitive alternative to NG. In a series of scenarios beyond average conditions, the analysis shows energy procurement costs dominate the total life cycle cost for all technologies and, unfortunately, are highly variable geographically and temporally, significantly affecting the viability of the alternatives. Results show that site-energy consumption ranges from 0.3 MMBtu/klb for industrial heat pumps to 1.6 MMBtu/klb for biomass boilers, with heat pumps achieving up to 78% lower energy use compared to natural gas systems. For the steam costs, the results show a range between $\$$8 and $\$$50/klb for NG, with biomass following closely ($\$$11 – $\$$44/klb) and grey hydrogen and IHP next ($\$$13 – $\$$33/klb and $\$$6 - $\$$78/klb), with cost reductions if IHP's cooling is utilized. Factors like operating hours, the need for cooling, and the ability to negotiate utility rates complicate the decision, making site-specific analyses critical. Therefore, we present a decision-making matrix to help manufacturers identify which steam generating technology is the best business decision for their situation. Overall, these results highlight the importance of steam generation for the facility's organizational goals, as well as the criticality of conducting individual site analyses.

Biomass boilers↗
DOE OSTI2026

Ramp-release experiments for strength measurements: Strain-rate dependence

This paper presents an enhanced analysis method for investigating material properties at high strain rates, extending the capability of established experimental techniques to gain more information. The ramp-release method has been applied to many experiments reported at high (≈10 5 − 10 6 s −1 ) strain-rates. More recent data gathered at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) has enabled higher (≈10 8 s −1 ) strain-rates to be studied. Here, we present an initial application of ramp-release analysis to NIF ramp-compression data, illustrating both the opportunities and the practical challenges of extending these methods to laser-driven platforms. The higher strain-rates accessed at the NIF mean that there is more strain-rate enhancement to strength, and the experimental configuration means that this enhancement is more readily seen in the data. This is enabled by the capability of avoiding peak-compression attenuation through the sample thickness with a designed hold period made possible by the pulse-shaping capability of NIF. We propose that this combination of experimental conditions and an enhanced analysis method enables the strain-rate enhancement to strength to be studied, and potentially for this to inform physics models at smaller scales than the continuum.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Design and Synthesis of Cubic K 3−2 x Ba x SbSe 4 Solid Electrolytes for K–O 2 Batteries

Developing K-ion conducting solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) plays a critical role in the safe implementation of potassium batteries. In this work, a chalcogenide-based potassium ion SSE is reported, K 3 SbSe 4 , which adopts a trigonal structure at room temperature. Single-crystal structural analysis reveals a trigonal-to-cubic phase transition at the low temperature of 50 °C, which is the lowest among similar compounds and thus provides easy access to the cubic phase. The substitution of barium for potassium in K 3 SbSe 4 leads to the creation of potassium vacancies, expansion of lattice parameters, and a transformation from a trigonal phase to a cubic phase. As a result, the maximum conductivity of K 3−2x Ba x SbSe 4 reaches around 0.1 mS cm −1 at 40 °C for K 2.2 Ba 0.4 SbSe 4 , which is over two orders of magnitude higher than that of undoped K 3 SbSe 4 . This novel SSE is successfully employed in a K–O 2 battery operating at room temperature where a polymer-laminated K 2.2 Ba 0.4 SbSe 4 pellet serves as a separator between the oxygen cathode and the potassium metal anode. Effective protection of the K metal anode against corrosion caused by O 2 is demonstrated.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2026

HTGR Multiphysics Application Drivers FY26 Updates

This report summarizes FY26 progress under the Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) program's high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) application driver work, covering a wide range of activities such as code validation and multi-physics code assessment. 1) A detailed SAM model of the High-Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) was developed using a unique-block grouping approach, with an extended parallel thermal network method to capture block-to-block conduction and radiation heat transfer, and applied to steady-state simulations of the HTTR 30~MW and 9~MW cases. 2) In another activity, SAM's newly implemented multi-component gas flow model was validated against the Natural convection Shutdown heat removal Test Facility (NSTF) argon ingress experiment, correctly capturing the density-driven suppression and thermal recovery of natural circulation observed when argon is introduced into the air-cooled Reactor Cavity Cooling System (RCCS) loop. 3) For the OECD/NEA High Temperature Test Facility (HTTF) benchmark, we co-led the international benchmark activities as well as the OECD/NEA final benchmark report to be released at the end of this year. 4) Finally, the coupled Griffin-SAM modeling capability for pebble-bed HTGRs was advanced by verifying the Griffin neutronics solution against Serpent Monte Carlo for a realistic non-uniform temperature distribution, resolving several deficiencies in the SAM-to-Griffin temperature transfer scheme, and enabling distinct fuel kernel, moderator, and coolant temperatures for cross section feedback. These new features were demonstrated in a PBR load-following transient.

Lee, Alvin↗
DOE OSTI2026

Density Functional Theory Analysis of Candidate Tritium Permeation Barriers for Vanadium Alloys as a Fusion Structural Material

Vanadium alloys are being considered as a candidate structural material for the breeder blanket component of future fusion reactors due to their good thermal conductivity, low activation, and chemical compatibility with FLiBe. However, vanadium has a high hydrogen solubility, resulting in hydrogen diffusion and trapping in the vanadium structural alloy and lower than expected tritium breeding ratios. To mitigate the permeation of hydrogen into the structural alloy, a tritium permeation barrier will be coated onto the vanadium alloy. Multiple materials have been proposed as candidate tritium permeation barriers, but the extent to which each of these materials impacts hydrogen diffusion and trapping is still unknown. In this project, we perform atomic-scale calculations to narrow down the list of potential tritium permeation barrier candidates and to understand the mechanisms through which hydrogen diffusion is affected in these materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Observation of Extraordinary Vibration Scatterings Induced by Strong Anharmonicity in Lead‐Free Halide Double Perovskites

Abstract Lead‐free halide double perovskites provide a promising solution for the long‐standing issues of lead‐containing halide perovskites, i.e., the toxicity of Pb and the low stability under ambient conditions and high‐intensity illumination. Their light‐to‐electricity or thermal‐to‐electricity conversion is strongly determined by the dynamics of the corresponding lattice vibrations. Here, the measurement of lattice dynamics is presented in a prototypical lead‐free halide double perovskite(Cs 2 NaInCl 6 ). The quantitative measurements and first‐principles calculations show that the scatterings among lattice vibrations at room temperature are at the timescale of ≈1 ps, which stems from the extraordinarily strong anharmonicity in Cs 2 NaInCl 6 . Further the degree of anharmonicity of each type of atom is quantitatively characterized in the Cs 2 NaInCl 6 single crystal, which stems from the interatomic forces, and demonstrate that this strong anharmonicity is synergistically contributed by the bond hierarchy, the tilting of the NaCl 6 and InCl 6 octahedral units, and the rattling of Cs + ions. Consequently, the crystalline Cs 2 NaInCl 6 possesses an ultralow thermal conductivity of ≈0.43 W mK −1 at room temperature, and a weak temperature dependence ofT −0.41 . These findings uncovered the underlying mechanisms behind the dynamics of lattice vibrations in double perovskites, which can largely benefit the design of optoelectronics and thermoelectrics based on halide double perovskites.

Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2025

Intermodal microwave-to-optical transduction using silicon-on-sapphire optomechanical ring resonator

Optomechanical and electro-optomechanical systems have emerged as one of the most promising approaches for quantum microwave-to-optical transduction to interconnect distributed quantum modalities for scaling the quantum systems. These systems use suspended structures to increase mode overlap and mitigate loss to achieve high efficiency. However, the suspended design’s poor heat dissipation under strong drive limits the ultimate efficiency. Here, we demonstrate an unsuspended optomechanical ring resonator (OMR) based on the silicon-on-sapphire (SOS) platform for microwave-to-optical frequency conversion. The OMR achieves a triply resonant optical-to-optical conversion with an enhanced coupling rateG b = 3.6 gigahertz per square-root milliwatt at a peak conversion efficiency of 1.2% with 3.6-milliwatt microwave drive power and a microwave-to-optical conversion efficiency of 1.5 × 10 −5 at 10-milliwatt optical drive power. Our results show that the unsuspended SOS platform, which mitigates the thermal effect and is compatible with superconducting qubits, is a promising platform for optomechanical circuitry and quantum transduction.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗
DOE OSTI2025

High‐Performance Rechargeable Lithium‐Chlorine Batteries with ALD Conformal Starburst Porous Graphene Positive Electrodes

Abstract Rechargeable alkali metal‐chlorine batteries are emerging as a promising high‐energy‐density solution. However, they confront significant challenges, including the primary issue stemming from the weak binding affinity of cathode materials for Cl 2 , which leads to a sluggish and inadequate supply of Cl 2 during the redox reactions, resulting in a shortened cycle life and low Coulombic efficiency (CE), particularly when operating at ultrahigh specific capacity outputs. Herein, an Al 2 O 3 ‐skinned heterostructured starburst porous graphene with conformal metasurfaces (Al 2 O 3 @rGO) is reported, crafted from a hierarchical porous starburst graphene arranged in a unique layered structure by the PTFE microemulsion skin effect, leveraging subsequent fluidized bed atomic layer deposition (FBALD) of Al 2 O 3 groups. Al 2 O 3 @rGO features superhydrophilicity, effective adsorption, fast kinetics from stable dynamic respiratory interface, high electrical and thermal conductivity anisotropy, intelligent thermal management and safe operation over a wide temperature range. Consequently, the Li‐Cl 2 @Al 2 O 3 @rGO battery achieves an ultrahigh discharge specific capacity of 5000 mAh g −1 at ≈100% CE, and even delivers stable cycling over 200 cycles with 2000 mAh g −1 at an average CE of 99.8% under low temperature environment of ‐40 °C. The scalable heterostructure approach offers a sustainable perspective of the development of functionalized metamaterials and metasurfaces for next‐generation safe and energy‐dense batteries and broader applications.

Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2025

Ultrafast low-temperature metal–insulator interface phonon dynamics and heat transport in a Pt/Gd 3 Fe 5 O 12 heterostructure

Interfacial thermal and acoustic phenomena have an important role in quantum science and technology, including in spintronic and spincaloritronic materials and devices. Simultaneous measurements of the low-temperature thermal and acoustic properties of a metal/insulator heterostructure reveal distinct dynamics in the characteristic phonon frequency ranges of acoustic and thermal transport. The measurements probed a heterostructure consisting of a thin film of Pt on the ferrimagnetic insulator gadolinium iron garnet (Gd 3 Fe 5 O 12 , GdIG) grown epitaxially on a gadolinium gallium garnet substrate. Ultrafast structural dynamics within the Pt layer were tracked using time-resolved ultrafast x-ray diffraction and analyzed to probe interfacial acoustic and thermal properties. The rapid heating of the Pt layer by a 400 nm wavelength femtosecond-duration optical pulse produced transient structural changes that provided the stimulus for these measurements. Rapid heating produced a broadband acoustic pulse that was partially reflected by the Pt/GdIG interface. Temporal frequencies up to 740 GHz, corresponding to angular frequencies of several THz, were detected in a wavelet analysis of the acoustic oscillations of the strain in the Pt layer. The structural results were analyzed to determine (i) the acoustic damping coefficient and phonon mean free path in Pt at frequencies of hundreds of GHz and (ii) the Grüneisen anharmonicity parameter. The thermal conductance of the Pt/GdIG interface was tracked using the slower, tens-of-picosecond-scale, dynamics of the initial cooling of the heated Pt layer. Analysis using a model based on the Boltzmann transport equation shows that the phonon transmission is lower at the phonon frequencies relevant to thermal transport than for subterahertz regime acoustics.

Acoustic phenomena↗
DOE OSTI2026

Low-Temperature Gold Deposition Improves CdTe Back Contacts

Improved back contacts can benefit CdTe photovoltaics (PV). In this work, Cd(Se,Te) PV absorbers are cooled during Au evaporation to thermally quench a chemical reaction occurring between gold and CdTe and the generation of a reaction product that lowers device efficiency. Reducing substrate temperature enhances PV power conversion efficiency via open-circuit voltage and fill factor increases. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) reveals that lower temperature also reduces chemical perturbations of the CdTe, potentially linking back contact formation to a CdTe degradation product that hinders PV performance. Comparing reaction enthalpy and substrate heating energy shows that back contact formation by sputtering elemental metals onto ZnTe may exhibit a degradation pathway analogous to that of CdTe/Au reported here. Degradation-diminishing contact formation processes are therefore of general interest for optoelectronic devices, and the reduced substrate temperature in this study is one example.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Estradiol associations with brain functional connectivity in postmenopausal women

Abstract Objective Previous studies have found that estrogens play a role in functional connectivity in the brain; however, little research has been done regarding how estradiol is associated with functional connectivity in postmenopausal women. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between estradiol and functional connectivity in postmenopausal women. Methods Structural and blood oxygenation level–dependent resting-state magnetic resonance imaging scans of 88 cognitively healthy postmenopausal individuals were obtained along with blood samples collected the same day as the magnetic resonance imaging to assess hormone levels. We generated connectivity values in CONN toolbox version 20.b, an SPM-based software. Results A regression analysis was run using estradiol level and regions of interest (ROI), including the hippocampus, parahippocampus, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and precuneus. Estradiol level was found to enhance parahippocampal gyrus anterior division left functional connectivity during ROI-to-ROI regression analysis. Estradiol enhanced functional connectivity between the parahippocampal gyrus anterior division left and the precuneus as well as the parahippocampal gyrus anterior division left and parahippocampal gyrus posterior division right. An exploratory analysis showed that years since the final menstrual period was related to enhanced connectivity between regions within the frontoparietal network. Conclusions These results illustrated the relationship between estradiol level and functional connectivity in postmenopausal women. They have implications for understanding how the functioning of the brain changes for individuals after menopause that may eventually lead to changes in cognition and behavior in older ages.

Obstetrics & Gynecology↗
DOE OSTI2024

A novel digital lifecycle for Material‐Process‐Microstructure‐Performance relationships of thermoplastic olefins foams manufactured via supercritical fluid assisted foam injection molding

Abstract This research significantly enhances the applicability of thermoplastic olefins (TPOs) in the automotive industry using supercritical N 2 as a physical foaming agent, effectively addressing the limitations of traditional chemical agents. It merges experimental results with simulations to establish detailed material‐process‐microstructure‐performance (MP2) relationships, targeting 5–20% weight reductions. This innovative approach labeled digital lifecycle (DLC) helps accurately predict tensile, flexural, and impact properties based on the foam microstructure, along with experimentally demonstrating improved paintability. The study combines process simulations with finite element models to develop a comprehensive digital model for accurately predicting mechanical properties. Our findings demonstrate a strong correlation between simulated and experimental data, with about a 5% error across various weight reduction targets, marking significant improvements over existing analytical models. This research highlights the efficacy of physical foaming agents in TPO enhancement and emphasizes the importance of integrating experimental and simulation methods to capture the underlying foaming mechanism to establish material‐process‐microstructure‐performance (MP2) relationships. Highlights Establishes a material‐process‐microstructure‐performance (MP2) for TPO foams Sustainably produces TPO foams using supercritical (ScF) N 2 with 20% lightweighting Shows enhanced paintability for TPO foam improved surface aesthetics Digital lifecycle (DLC) that predicts both foam microstructure and properties DLC maps process effects & microstructure onto FEA mesh for precise prediction

Engineering↗
DOE OSTI2025

Semiconducting Electrides Derived from Sodalite: A First-Principles Study

Electrides are ionic crystals, with electrons acting as anions occupying well-defined lattice sites. These exotic materials have attracted considerable attention in recent years for potential applications in catalysis, rechargeable batteries, and display technology. Among this class of materials, electride semiconductors can further expand the horizon of potential applications due to the presence of a band gap. However, there are only limited reports on semiconducting electrides, hindering the understanding of their physical and chemical properties. In recent work, we initiated an approach to derive potential electrides via selective removal of symmetric Wyckoff sites of anions from existing complex minerals. Herein, we present a follow-up effort to design semiconducting electrides from parental complex sodalites. Among four candidate compounds, we found that a cubic Ca 4 Al 6 O 12 structure with the I-43m space group symmetry exhibits perfect electron localization at the sodalite cages, with a narrow electronic band gap of 1.8 eV, making it suitable for use in photocatalysis. Analysis of the electronic structures reveals that a lower electronegativity of the surrounding cations drives greater electron localization and promotes the formation of an electride band near the Fermi level. Our work proposes an alternative approach for designing new semiconducting electrides under ambient conditions and offers guidelines for further experimental exploration.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Isotope engineering for spin defects in van der Waals materials

Abstract Spin defects in van der Waals materials offer a promising platform for advancing quantum technologies. Here, we propose and demonstrate a powerful technique based on isotope engineering of host materials to significantly enhance the coherence properties of embedded spin defects. Focusing on the recently-discovered negatively charged boron vacancy center ($${{{{{{{{\rm{V}}}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{{\rm{B}}}}}}}}}^{-}$$ V B − ) in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), we grow isotopically purified h 10 B 15 N crystals. Compared to$${{{{{{{{\rm{V}}}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{{\rm{B}}}}}}}}}^{-}$$ V B − in hBN with the natural distribution of isotopes, we observe substantially narrower and less crowded$${{{{{{{{\rm{V}}}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{{\rm{B}}}}}}}}}^{-}$$ V B − spin transitions as well as extended coherence timeT 2 and relaxation timeT 1 . For quantum sensing,$${{{{{{{{\rm{V}}}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{{\rm{B}}}}}}}}}^{-}$$ V B − centers in our h 10 B 15 N samples exhibit a factor of 4 (2) enhancement in DC (AC) magnetic field sensitivity. For additional quantum resources, the individual addressability of the$${{{{{{{{\rm{V}}}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{{\rm{B}}}}}}}}}^{-}$$ V B − hyperfine levels enables the dynamical polarization and coherent control of the three nearest-neighbor 15 N nuclear spins. Our results demonstrate the power of isotope engineering for enhancing the properties of quantum spin defects in hBN, and can be readily extended to improving spin qubits in a broad family of van der Waals materials.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗
DOE OSTI2026

Case Study of Integrating High-Temperature Heat Pump with LiBr-H2O Absorption Chiller for Data Center Liquid Cooling

Data centers (DCs) are physical infrastructures that support artificial intelligence workloads. The rapid growth of artificial intelligence is putting substantial pressure on the US power grid. Most of electricity consumed by IT equipment, accounting for 50%-60% of total DC power, ultimately becomes waste heat. This heat is dissipated by DC’s cooling facilities, accounting for an additional 30%-40% of total DC power. Recovering and repurposing this waste heat offers a significant opportunity to enhance energy efficiency and reduce operating costs of DCs. One potential pathway is converting heat to cold using thermal-driven absorption chillers, therefore, reducing the power consumption in DC cooling facilities. Existing studies mainly demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of repurposing DC’s waste heat for cooling applications but provide limited technical details on how to integrate the thermal-driven absorption chillers with DC cooling systems. In addition, the low-grade waste heat available from DCs must be upgraded to higher temperatures suitable for absorption chillers. This paper presents a case study on integrating high-temperature heat pumps with a LiBr-H2O absorption chiller to use DC waste heat for cooling. A thermodynamic model of single-effect, LiBr-H2O absorption chiller and an empirical model of high-temperature heat pumps were built. The case study considers ASHRAE W17 liquid-cooled DC, with facility service water supplied at 17.0℃ and returned at 25.3℃. The thermal behaviors of absorption chiller components were predicted for the generation temperature ranging from 75.0℃ to 115.0℃. Based on the available waste heat in the integrated system, two waste heat recovery strategies were evaluated: a facility service water-based strategy and cooling water-based strategy. Results indicated that the cooling water-based strategy achieves higher Coefficient of Performance (COPs) than the facility service water-based strategy. The relatively low cooling COPs of single-effect LiBr-H2O absorption chillers could be offset by high heating COP of high temperature heat pumps. The maximum cooling COP of absorption chiller and the overall COP of integrated systems occur at lower generation temperatures, but these conditions also yield lower cooling capacities. In practice, system operation should balance the trade-off between the COP and cooling capacity

Wang, Pengtao [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000214713429)↗
DOE OSTI2026

Design Trade-Offs in Composite Fuel Cell Membranes: Effects of Reinforcement and Chemical Additives

Perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membranes are critical components in proton exchange membrane fuel cells, where performance depends on balancing ionic conductivity, mechanical durability, and chemical stability. This study characterizes a composite membrane (NC700) featuring PFSA-impregnated expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) reinforcement and cerium-based radical scavengers, benchmarked against unreinforced NR211. Complementary techniques, including electron microscopy, X-ray scattering, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and dynamic mechanical analysis, identify the structural and compositional strategies employed in NC700. Water sorption isotherms reveal lower water uptake for NC700 across all conditions, attributed to reinforcement and cerium incorporation. Reinforcement reduces in-plane swelling from 11% to 2.1% at 90% RH, confirming strong swelling anisotropy, while maintaining mechanical properties at elevated temperatures. While the ionic conductivity of NC700 is approximately 10% lower than that of NR211, the reduced thickness yields a 40% decrease in calculated area-specific resistance, suggesting the composite architecture can favorably shift the conductivity-stability trade-off. The composite structure also reduces gas permeability, indicating potential for improved separator function alongside favorable transport properties. Systematic deconvolution of reinforcement and additive contributions shows that conductivity losses from cerium incorporation are largely offset by gains from the lower equivalent-weight polymer, providing quantitative relationships that may guide composite membrane design for fuel cells and other electrochemical applications.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗