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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 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Localized High Concentration Electrolytes for High Voltage Lithium-Metal Batteries: Correlation between the Electrolyte Composition and Its Reductive/Oxidative Stability

We demonstrate a first-principles screening methodology as an effective tool to explore electrolyte formulations for the new generation of high energy density rechargeable batteries. We study the liquid structure and electronic properties in dilute electrolytes, high concentration electrolytes (HCE), and localized high concentration electrolytes (LHCE), with focus on electrolyte formulations based on lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI), dimethyl carbonate (DMC), and bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) ether (BTFE) as a diluent. We describe the solvation complexes in the dilute electrolyte and explore structural changes triggered by the increase in lithium salt concentration for HCEs and the diluent effects in LHCEs. In HCE formulations, there is a 4-fold coordination environment of lithium-ions as in the dilute electrolyte, but the number of lithium-ion interactions with O atoms from FSI- anions dominates. In these solutions, the ability of the FSI- anions to interact with multiple lithium-ions allows complex 3D network formation and influences the reductive/oxidative behavior of the electrolyte. Interestingly, in LHCEs, the BTFE diluent molecules do not change the 3D solution structure when diluting the HCE formulation from 5.49 to 3.83 M. However, there is a composition threshold where the structural and electronic behavior may change. We show that diluting the HCE electrolyte with BTFE down to 1.77 M breaks the three-dimensional solution structure into an island-like solvation complex. We relate these structural changes to the electronic properties of the electrolytes finding a causal relationship between the reductive/oxidative behavior and the lithium-oxygen interaction mechanisms in the solvated complexes. The coordination with lithium-ions lowers the electrolyte LUMO and HOMO levels: the higher is the number of interactions with lithium-ions, the more likely the solvent molecule, FSI- anion, or diluent molecule is to be reduced and the less likely it is to become oxidized. The evolution of the solvated ion structure in HCE and LHCE suggests a close connection to a corresponding change in the lithium-ion transport mechanisms for these electrolytes.

anions, molecules, oxygen, solvents, electrolytes↗
NASA NTRS1991

The Role of the Interface in Refractory Metal Alloy Composites

Creep-rupture and tensile tests have been used to evaluate thoriated W-wire reinforced Nb-1 percent Zr alloy matrix composites fabricated via arc-spray monotape technique. A significant creep strength enhancement was observed over the unreinforced matrix alloy while matrix integrity was maintained; the fiber/matrix interface phase is noted to be a strong and ductile W/Nb alloy, which is formed due to the mutual solubility of the constituent metals. High strength, toughness, and thermal stability are demonstrated by this material system, which is also resistant to liquid alkali metal corrosion.

Grobstein, Toni↗
DOE OSTI2020

Origin of Large Meteoritic SiC Stardust Grains in Metal-rich AGB Stars

Stardust grains that originated in ancient stars and supernovae are recovered from meteorites and carry the detailed composition of their astronomical sites of origin. We present evidence that the majority of large (μm-sized) meteoritic silicon carbide (SiC) grains formed in C-rich asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars that were more metal-rich than the Sun. In the framework of the slow neutron captures (the s process) that occur in AGB stars, the lower-than-solar $^{88}$Sr/$^{86}$Sr isotopic ratios measured in the large SiC grains can only be accompanied by Ce/Y elemental ratios that are also lower than solar and predominately observed in metal-rich barium stars—the binary companions of AGB stars. Such an origin suggests that these large grains represent the material from high-metallicity AGB stars needed to explain the s-process nucleosynthesis variations observed in bulk meteorites. In the outflows of metal-rich, C-rich AGB stars, SiC grains are predicted to be small (≃0.2 μm); large (≃μm-sized) SiC grains can grow if the number of dust seeds is 2–3 orders of magnitude lower than the standard value of 10 -13 times the number of H atoms. We therefore predict that with increasing metallicity, the number of dust seeds might decrease, resulting in the production of larger SiC grains.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Carbon nanodot precursors enable ultrahigh-loading copper single-atom catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have attracted significant attention in electrocatalysis due to their high metal utilization and tunable electronic structures; however, their practical implementation is often limited by poor atomic dispersion, low metal loadings (typically < 1 wt%), and insufficient anchoring of single metal atoms on catalyst supports. Herein, we report a simple and versatile strategy to synthesize copper single-atom catalysts (Cu-SACs) with ultrahigh metal loading using citric-acid-derived carbon nanodots as metal-capturing precursors. Through hydrothermal treatment followed by pyrolysis in the presence of urea, atomically dispersed copper atoms coordinated with nitrogen are incorporated into a carbon framework, achieving a Cu loading of up to 20 wt% while maintaining atomic dispersion. Notably, a significant fraction of the copper single atoms exists as Cu+–N2 coordination, which provides under-coordinated and catalytically active sites. The resulting Cu-SAC exhibits promising oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity in alkaline media, delivering a limiting current density comparable to that of commercial 20 wt% Pt/C with a predominant four-electron reduction pathway. Despite this high intrinsic activity, durability tests reveal gradual performance degradation under prolonged electrochemical operation, which is attributed to demetallation and aggregation of copper single atoms into metallic nanoparticles. These results demonstrate the potential of carbon nanodot-based platforms for synthesizing high-loading SACs, while underscoring the critical need to simultaneously control carbon porosity and metal–nitrogen coordination to enhance active-site accessibility and durability.

Sharma, Prakhar [University of Kentucky]↗
DOE OSTI2023

The cross-correlation of galaxies in absorption with the Lyman α forest

ABSTRACT We present the first clustering measurement of Strong Blended Lyman α (SBLA) absorption systems by measuring their cross-correlation with the Lyman α forest. SBLAs are a new population of absorbers detected within the Lyman α forest. We find a bias of 2.329 ± 0.057, consistent with that of Damped Lyman α absorbers (DLAs). For DLAs, we recover a bias of 2.331 ± 0.057 larger than previously reported. We also find a redshift space distortion parameter β = 0.417 ± 0.010, also consistent with the recovered value for DLAs (β = 0.416 ± 0.010). This is consistent with SBLA and DLA systems tracing different portions of the circumgalactic medium of a broadly common population of galaxies. Given these common clustering properties, we combined them to perform a cross-correlation of galaxies in absorption with the Lyα forest. We find that the BAO scale uncertainty of this new measurement is 1.75 × that of Lyα autocorrelation and 1.6 × that of the quasar cross-correlation with the Lyα forest. We note that the current preferred metal contamination model for fitting the correlation functions with respect to the Lyα forest is not realistic enough for SBLA systems, likely due to their status as high redshift precision sites of high metal enrichment. Mock spectra including SBLA systems and their associated metal absorption are required to understand this sample fully. We conclude that SBLAs have the potential to complement the standard Lyα cosmological analyses in future surveys.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗
DOE OSTI2020

Radiation Signature Training Device Gamma Equivalent Spheres

Radiation signature training device sources are a continuation of a previous effort to produce a highly enriched uranium equivalent sphere. The original research was designed and motivated to produce a Department of Transportation special form source that emulated the passive gamma signature of a solid metal highly enriched uranium sphere. In addition, the mass reduction (i.e., of the 235 U) minimized logistical costs (security, criticality safety, radiological safety and transportation requirements). Radiation signature training device sources expand on the original concept, redesigning the encapsulation in a modular fashion that allows a variety of loadings. The result is a reconfigurable special nuclear material source set that can vary greatly in the magnitude of the gamma flux and the isotopic distribution. Use of the source to test a variety of standards (N42.34-2015, N42.38-2015, N42.43-2015, N42.53-2018, N42.48-2018, DHS-TCS Backpack Based Radiation Detection Systems, DHS-TCS Handheld Instruments Used for the Detection and Identification of Radionuclides, DHS-TCS Vehicle Mounted Mobile Systems) will be discussed.

Blessinger, Christopher S.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Magnetic studies on Apollo 15 and 16 lunar samples

The magnetic properties of lunar samples are almost exclusively due to rather pure metallic iron. The mare basalt contains about 0.06 wt.% Fe, the soils 0.5-0.6 wt.%, and the breccias 0.3-1.0 wt.%. Most of the additional iron in the soils and breccias is believed to be the result of reduction processes operating on the lunar surface. Whereas the total metallic iron content of the soils from all landing sites is rather constant, the Fe(0)/Fe(++) ratio and the average iron grain size increase with the age of the landing site, reflecting increasing maturity. The crystalline rocks studied from Apollo 16 have highly variable, but generally, very high metallic Fe content (up to 1.7 wt.% Fe). It is suggested that these rocks are either breccias or igneous samples which have been severely thermally metamorphosed in a highly reducing environment.

Pearce, G. W.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Origin of metal ions in the coma of P/Giacobini-Zinner

During the crossing of the ICE spacecraft through the coma of the comet Giacobini-Zinner, ions with a mass/charge ratio 24 + or - 1 were unexpectedly found. Na(+) and/or Mg(+) would fit into this mass range. Processes that could lead to high metal ion abundances in cometary comas are discussed and it is concluded that evaporation or sputtering from silicate grains are not likely to be responsible. A remaining possibility is the occurrence of alkali metals in the icy phase as a result of either cometary differentiation or cocondensation of these elements with the icy component prior to the accretion of cometary bodies.

Geiss, J.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Extending the chemical reach of the H3 survey: detailed abundances of the dwarf-galaxy stellar stream Wukong/LMS-1

ABSTRACT We present the first detailed chemical-abundance analysis of stars from the dwarf-galaxy stellar stream Wukong/LMS-1 covering a wide metallicity range ($-3.5 \lt \rm [Fe/H] \lesssim -1.3$). We find abundance patterns that are effectively indistinguishable from the bulk of Indus and Jhelum, a pair of smaller stellar streams proposed to be dynamically associated with Wukong/LMS-1. We confirmed a carbon-enhanced metal-poor star ($\rm [C/Fe] \gt +0.7$ and $\rm [Fe/H] \sim -2.9$) in Wukong/LMS-1 with strong enhancements in Sr, Y, and Zr, which is peculiar given its solar-level [Ba/Fe]. Wukong/LMS-1 stars have high abundances of α elements up to $\rm [Fe/H] \gtrsim -2$, which is expected for relatively massive dwarfs. Towards the high-metallicity end, Wukong/LMS-1 becomes α-poor, revealing that it probably experienced fairly standard chemical evolution. We identified a pair of N- and Na-rich stars in Wukong/LMS-1, reminiscent of multiple stellar populations in globular clusters. This indicates that this dwarf galaxy contained at least one globular cluster that was completely disrupted in addition to two intact ones previously known to be associated with Wukong/LMS-1, which is possibly connected to similar evidence found in Indus. From these ≥3 globular clusters, we estimate the total mass of Wukong/LMS-1 to be ${\approx }10^{10} \, \mathrm{M}_\odot$, representing ∼1 per cent of the present-day Milky Way. Finally, the [Eu/Mg] ratio in Wukong/LMS-1 continuously increases with metallicity, making this the first example of a dwarf galaxy where the production of r-process elements is clearly dominated by delayed sources, presumably neutron-star mergers.

Limberg, Guilherme (ORCID:0000000292698287)↗
DOE OSTI2022

Highly Reversible Sodium Metal Battery Anodes via Alloying Heterointerfaces

As a promising pathway toward low-cost, long-duration energy storage, rechargeable sodium batteries are of increasing interest. Batteries that incorporate metallic sodium as anode promise a high theoretical specific capacity of 1166 mAh g –1 , and low reduction potential of –2.71 V. The high reactivity and poor electrochemical reversibility of sodium anodes render sodium metal anode (SMA) cells among the most challenging for practical implementation. Here, the failure mechanisms of Na anodes are investigated and the authors report that loss of morphological control is not the fundamental cause of failure. Rather, it is the inherently poor anchoring/root structure of electrodeposited Na to the electrode substrate that leads to poor reversibility and cell failure. Poorly anchored Na deposits are prone to break away from the current collector, producing orphaning and poor anode utilization. Thin metallic coatings in a range of chemistries are proposed and evaluated as SMA substrates. Based on thermodynamic and ion transport considerations, such substrates undergo reversible alloying reactions with Na and are hypothesized to promote good root growth—regardless of the morphology. Among the various options, Au stands out for its ability to support long Na anode lifetime and high reversibility (Coulombic Efficiency > 98%), for coating thicknesses in the range of 10–1000 nm. Finally, as a first step toward evaluating practical utility of the anodes, their performance in Na||SPAN cells with N:P ratio close to 1:1 is evaluated.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Direct Evidence for Buffer-Enhanced Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer Generation of a High-Valent Metal-Oxo Complex

Here, the oxidation of metal-aquo and -hydroxo complexes to generate the high-valent metal-oxo species used in oxidative catalysis is often kinetically slow due to sluggish proton transfer between ligated −H 2 O/–OH in the proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) chemistry. In this research, a ruthenium water oxidation catalyst anchored to a conductive tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) thin film, abbreviated ITO|Ru II –OH 2 , was characterized by spectroscopic and electrochemical methods in acetate or phosphate buffers. The deprotonated intermediate, Ru II –OH, was observed spectroscopically in the PCET half-reaction ITO(e – )|Ru III –OH + H + → ITO|Ru II –OH 2 indicating an underlying stepwise ET-PT mechanism. In contrast, at elevated buffer concentrations, this intermediate was absent, and a 2–4 order of magnitude increase in the proton transfer rate constant was observed. Kinetic data for this PCET reaction measured as a function of the driving force provided the reorganization energy λ = 1.05 eV and was assigned to a concerted electron–proton transfer (EPT) mechanism. In addition, the standard heterogeneous rate constants for two PCET equilibria, Ru III –OH + H + + e – ⇌ Ru II –OH 2 and Ru IV = O + H + + e – ⇌ Ru III –OH were enhanced by these same buffers. Collectively, the data show that the added buffers can enhance the kinetics and thermodynamics for PCET reactions relevant to oxidative catalysis.

Catalysts↗
DOE OSTI2025

Perovskite Catalysts for Pure-Water-Fed Anion-Exchange-Membrane Electrolyzer Anodes: Co-design of Electrically Conductive Nanoparticle Cores and Active Surfaces

Anion-exchange-membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWEs) are a possible low-capital-expense, efficient, and scalable hydrogen-production technology with inexpensive hardware, earth-abundant catalysts, and pure water. However, pure-water-fed AEMWEs remain at an early stage of development and suffer from inferior performance compared with proton-exchange-membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs). One challenge is to develop effective non-platinum-group-metal (non-PGM) anode catalysts and electrodes in pure-water-fed AEMWEs. We show how LaNiO3-based perovskite oxides can be tuned by cosubstitution on both A- and B-sites to simultaneously maintain high metallic electrical conductivity along with a degree of surface reconstruction to expose a stable Co-based active catalyst. The optimized perovskite, Sr0.1La0.9Co0.5Ni0.5O3, yielded pure-water AEMWEs operating at 1.97 V at 2.0 A cm-2 at 70 °C with a pure-water feed, thus illustrating the utility of the catalyst design principles.

Zhai, Tingting↗
DOE OSTI2025

Leveraging Radiofrequency Identification Success Beyond Hazardous Material Inventory Management at a National Laboratory

Effective inventory management can be overshadowed by conflicting priorities in organizational procedures, particularly in research-focused institutions such as national laboratories that handle expensive, delicate, and hazardous materials. Here, this study investigated the potential of radiofrequency identification (RFID) technology, currently used for hazardous chemical inventory, in applications with higher metal interference and absorption, specifically pressure release device (PRD) compliance and nuclear container management, at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). This study was done to document best practices to enhance inventory identification speeds for inventory reconciliation and inventory recall and to explore optimal configurations for RFID implementation compared to traditional manual methods of equipment management. Tests were conducted to determine the ideal RFID tag orientation (read at angles of 0°, 90°, and 270°), various container layouts (linear, separated, curved, operational), and ID methods such as manual, barcode, and RFID performing three trials per method per orientation. Results indicated that 0° was the optimal read angle for minimizing metallic interference, and the operational and curved arrangements significantly outperformed the linear and separated configurations in read speed. 3D printed mounts were developed and tested, increasing the read range of the RFID reader by up to 235% in cases of high metallic interference. The RFID technology demonstrated an average speed increase of 65% over a simplified manual identification, which supports the conclusion that RFID is a more efficient method for large hazardous inventory management and equipment reconciliation. Additionally, capturing meta-data, such as location and date, can be used to query for inventory recall and automated updating of record information.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS1981

Extragalactic H II regions in the UV - Implications for primeval galaxies

Three extragalactic regions of rapid star formation with redshifts great enough to separate the Lyman-alpha region from geocoronal Lyman-alpha have been observed with the IUE satellite. Only the low metal abundance object had detectable Lyman-alpha emission with Lyman-alpha/H-alpha of about 6; the other two have Lyman-alpha/H-alpha less than 0.6 (2 sigma). In the normal metallicity objects, there is some evidence for Lyman-alpha extinction in addition to that computed from the Balmer decrement. Lyman-alpha is therefore expected to be weak or absent in collapsed primeval galaxies because of their predicted moderate to high metallicity.

Meier, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Metallicity Effects on Stellar Magnetic Activity: Blanco 1 as a Test Case

We present X-ray Luminosity Distributions (XLDs) of late-type members (dF, dG, dK, dM) of the Blanco 1 cluster, based on ROSAT-HRI data and new astrometric-photometric membership obtained from the GSC-II project. For the first time we present the XLD of dM stars of this cluster. The high metallicity of Blanco 1 allows us to investigate the role of chemical composition on the coronal emission of late-type stars. Comparison between X-ray Luminosity Distributions of Blanco 1 and Pleiades, NGC2516 and alpha Per suggests a possible metallicity effect in dM stars.

Harnden, F. R., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Wear of iron and nickel in corrosive liquid environments

Friction and wear behavior of Fe and Ni sliding on aluminum oxide in aerated sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid were investigated. The results show that the concentration of acid is an important factor in controlling the metal loss caused by wear corrosion processes in the acids. At very dilute acid concentration (10 to the -4 N), Fe behaves differently from Ni. Fe develops a soft, friable deposit, while Ni develops no corrosion layer. The formation and removal of the corrosion deposit on Fe resulted in high metal loss and coefficient of friction, as compared to the relatively low metal loss and coefficient of friction observed for Ni. At slightly higher acid concentration (10 to the -3 and 10 to the -2 N), no corrosion products were produced on both Fe and Ni. Wear of Fe and Ni was generally at a minimum. At higher acid concentration (10 to the -1 N and above), loss of Fe and Ni increased as the acid concentration increased. In sulfuric acid the maximum loss of both Fe and Ni was at 7.5 N (30%) concentration, and the metal losses of both Fe and Ni dropped markedly at 15 N (50%) and above. In hydrochloric acid, however, the Fe loss continued to increase with the increase of acid concentration, and the maximum Fe loss occurred in the most concentrated acid (12.1 N, 37%). There were variations in loss with Ni from specimen to specimen examined in hydrochloric acids (10 to the -1 N and above). The coefficient of friction for Ni increased slightly with an increase in acid concentration up to 10 to the -2 N. When corrosion started to dominate in the wear-corrosion process, the coefficient of friction decreased in both sulfuric and hydrochloric acids at 10 to the -1 N and above.

Miyoshi, Kazuhisa↗
NASA NTRS1988

Wear of iron and nickel in corrosive liquid environments

Friction and wear behavior of Fe and Ni sliding on aluminum oxide in aerated sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid were investigated. The results show that the concentration of acid is an important factor in controlling the metal loss caused by wear corrosion processes in the acids. At very dilute acid concentration (10 to the -4 N), Fe behaves differently from Ni. Fe develops a soft, friable deposit, while Ni develops no corrosion layer. The formation and removal of the corrosion deposit on Fe resulted in high metal loss and coefficient of friction, as compared to the relatively low metal loss and coefficient of friction observed for Ni. At slightly higher acid concentration (10 to the -3 and 10 to the -2 N), no corrosion products were produced on both Fe and Ni. Wear of Fe and Ni was generally at a minimum. At higher acid concentration (10 to the -1 N and above), loss of Fe and Ni increased as the acid concentration increased. In sulfuric acid the maximum loss of both Fe and Ni was at 7.5 N (30 percent) concentration, and the metal losses of both Fe and Ni dropped markedly at 15 N (50 percent) and above. In hydrochloric acid, however, the Fe loss continued to increase with the increase of acid concentration, and the maximum Fe loss occurred in the most concentrated acid (12.1 N, 37 percent). There were variations in loss with Ni from specimen to specimen examined in hydrochloric acids (10 to the -1 N and above). The coefficient of friction for Ni increased slightly with an increase in acid concentration up to 10 to the -2 N. When corrosion started to dominate in the wear-corrosion process, the coefficient of friction decreased in both sulfuric and hydrochloric acids at 10 to the -1 N and above.

Miyoshi, Kazuhisa↗