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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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643 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Challenge of Fielding Experiments at the Annular Core Research Reactor

Conference is the annual Test, Research &Training Reactors (TRTR) meeting. Typically attended by dozens of research reactor operators, educators, trainers, maintenance & service contractors Also, members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) attend. Presentation highlights ACRRs capability and the process used to submit and approve experimental activities. This presentation is adapted from my previous presentation to the Material Test and Research conference, SAND2025-1775526.

Martin, Lonnie E. [Sandia National Laboratories (S↗
DOE OSTI2026

Forensic characterization of surrogate nuclear explosion debris: radiochemical and spectroscopic strategies for method validation

Surrogate nuclear explosion debris (SNED) has emerged as a critical platform for advancing post-detonation nuclear forensic analysis in the absence of readily accessible historic materials. SNED enables controlled investigation and validation of analytical methodologies used to interrogate the chemical, isotopic, radiological, and microstructural signatures preserved in nuclear explosion debris. This review presents an integrated assessment of destructive and non-destructive analytical techniques commonly employed within decision-driven nuclear forensic workflows. Each technique is discussed individually while highlighting how it contributes to different stages of post-detonation analysis. Core methods – including gamma and alpha spectrometry, ICP-MS, TIMS, SIMS, SEM-EDS, XRF, LIBS, vibrational spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy – are critically evaluated with respect to forensic maturity, information content, and matrix limitations. Emphasis is placed on the role of SNED in benchmarking multi-modal workflows and identifying gaps in reproducing heterogeneity, fractionation, and radiation-driven evolution relevant to forensic attribution.

X-ray spectroscopic methods↗
DOE OSTI2023

Effect of the Nature of Both Cation and Anion Substitution on the Structural Symmetry of Li‐Rich 3 d ‐Metal Chalcogenide Electrodes

Abstract Li‐rich layered chalcogenides have recently led to better understanding of the anionic redox process and its associated high capacity while providing ways to overcome its practical limitations of voltage fade and irreversibility. This study reports on the feasibility of triggering anionic activity in Li 2 TiS 3 , through anionic substitution (Se for S) or cationic substitution (Fe for Ti). Herein, the chalcogenide chemical space is further explored to prepare mono‐substituted Li 1.7 Ti 0.85 Mn 0.45 Ch 3 (Ch = S/Se) and doubly substituted cationic and anionic phases (Li 1.7 Ti 0.85 Fe 0.45 S 3‐z Se z ) which crystallize either in the O3‐ or O1‐type structures depending upon substituents. All series show a bell‐shape capacity variation as function of the transition metal (TM) substitution degree with values up to 240 mAh g −1 . For specific compositions, a structural O3 to O1 phase transition is observed upon Li removal, which is not reversible upon Li re‐insertion due to kinetic limitations and negatively affects long‐term cycling performance. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm the O3/O1 relative stability along the different series and point subtle electronic differences in the TM‐doping, rationalizing the structural and electrochemical behaviors of these phases upon cycling. These findings provide further insights into the link between structural and electronic stability, which is of key importance for designing chalcogenide‐based anionic redox compounds.

Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2026

Gold Catalyzed Polymerization Reactions of Unsaturated Substrates: Towards New Functional, Recyclable, and Upcycled Aromatic Polymers (Final Report)

The overarching goal of this project lied in the translation of gold (Au) catalyzed small molecule synthetic transformations to the field of polymer science, the generation of new macromolecular structures, and the application of the materials and methodologies produced toward sustainable polymer development and chemical upcycling. Specifically, this project aimed to polymerize monomers based on unsaturated precursors and access novel polymeric materials through the extension of Au catalyzed intermolecular processes. The specific objectives of this project comprised: (1) the extension of Au-catalyzed intermolecular reactions to bifunctional monomers and the polycondensation of diverse nucleophiles; (2) to gain fundamental mechanistic insight into Au-catalyzed polymerizations; (3) the application of these reactions to the synthesis of new classes of aromatic polymers that can be readily and/or selectively deconstructed; and (4) to apply these chemistries to post-polymerization modification (PPM) of commercially relevant polyaromatic substrates, including post-industrial plastics and post-consumer waste.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Electron/hadron separation with the TRD based on GaAs pixel detectors

Transition Radiation Detectors (TRDs) are widely used for particle identification in both high-energy physics and astroparticle physics. They are typically equipped with gaseous detectors. The main limitation of these types of detectors is that TR photons and ionization losses cannot be decoupled, which significantly reduces the particle separation power. Recent advancements in the development of pixel detectors based on GaAs sensors offer a unique opportunity to effectively detect TR photons and separate them from ionization losses. Such detectors represent novel devices that combine precise tracking capabilities with particle identification (PID) properties. The present work is dedicated to an experimental study of particle identification properties of the TRD prototype based on 500 μ m-thick GaAs sensor bonded to a Timepix3 chip. Studies were performed at the CERN SPS and it was shown that at a particle momentum of 20 GeV/c, the probability of misidentifying a hadron as an electron is below 10 −2 for an electron detection efficiency of 98%–99%, and it is 1 . 6⋅10 −4 for electron detection efficiency of 90%. This performance surpasses the electron/hadron rejection power of all known TRDs by an order of magnitude for the same detector length.

GaAs detectors↗
DOE OSTI2024

Intake runner for gaseous fuel engine, system, and method

A gaseous fuel engine system includes a hydrogen fuel supply, an engine housing having an intake port extending to a cylinder, and an intake runner. The intake runner includes a valve mount attached to a conduit and having a valve mounting face, and a gaseous fuel admission valve is mounted upon the valve mounting face. A hydrogen fuel passage extends from the valve mount through the conduit and is oriented angularly to at least one of a clamping face of the intake runner or the valve mounting face. Related apparatus and methodology is also disclosed.

Singh, Jaswinder↗
DOE OSTI2025

Impact of Advances in Anion Exchange Membranes and Ionomers on Alkaline Fuel Cells

Abstract The operation of low‐temperature electrochemical energy conversion systems (fuel cells, electrolyzers) at high pH values is of perennial interest due to the possibility of moving away from expensive platinum group metal catalysts and reducing cost. Historically, the anion exchange membranes (AEMs) and ionomers have been hampered by performance (ionic conductivity, mechanical strength) and chemical stability issues. In this context, select developments over the past decade in alternate AEM chemistries, water management methods, and production of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) that have enabled a significant leap in performance of alkaline fuel cells are examined. These developments are linked to performance improvements in alkaline H 2 /O 2 fuel cells and also consider developments in alkaline fuel cells using nitrogen‐containing fuels (ammonia, hydrazine), carbon‐containing fuels (alcohols, glycols), and boron‐containing fuels (sodium borohydride, ammonia borane). Finally, current challenges and bottlenecks are identified, and potential solutions are proposed.

Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2026

The Development of Kinetic and Radiation Hydrodynamics Modeling of Thermonuclear Burn Propagation in Isochoric p - 11 B Through the Support of the INFUSE Program

The report summarizes DOE INFUSE-supported work between HB11 Energy and the University of Rochester’s TriForce Institute to improve computational modeling of advanced fusion fuels, especially proton–boron-11 (p- 11 B). The project extended the TriForce particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo collision code to include physics needed for dense, high-temperature p- 11 B burn studies, including p- 11 B fusion reactions, three-alpha-particle reaction products, relativistic Coulomb collisions, large-angle nuclear scattering, bremsstrahlung radiation, inverse bremsstrahlung absorption, and photon transport. The upgraded models were verified against focused physics tests and against known deuterium–tritium burn behavior. The study then used one-dimensional spherical simulations to estimate the conditions required for thermonuclear burn propagation in isochoric p- 11 B fuel. The calculations found that burn propagation is possible in the model, but only under very extreme hot-spot conditions, such as about 7000 g/cm 3 at 500 keV or 9000 g/cm 3 at 300 keV for a 20-micron hot spot. These conditions are much more demanding than current demonstrated inertial confinement fusion hot spots. The report concludes that the INFUSE collaboration successfully advanced kinetic and radiation modeling capabilities for p- 11 B fusion and provided useful estimates of ignition requirements. However, the simulated fuel gains remain below what would be needed for practical inertial fusion energy, and further work is needed to reconcile differences among kinetic, radiation-hydrodynamic, and analytic models and to identify more achievable target designs.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Nuclear Isomer Discovery Database Released

Nuclear isomers correspond to excited states in nuclides with finite lifetimes. Here, after the discovery of isotopes–different nuclides of the same element–in 1913 by Frederick Soddy [Citation1], Otto Hahn postulated in 1921 [Citation2] that there are even different metastable states within one isotope. In analogy to chemical isomers, which are the same compounds with distinct structures, nuclear isomers have the same number of protons and neutrons but in different configurations.

Thoennessen, Michael [Michigan State University, E↗
DOE OSTI2026

Toward the Limits of Nuclear Existence: First Science with FRIB

The opportunity to explore the properties of short-lived atomic nuclei—or rare isotopes—in laboratories has enabled discoveries across the sciences related to the nature of the nuclear force and the limits of nuclear existence, the origin of the elements in the Universe, the cosmic matter–antimatter asymmetry, and the application of rare isotopes for society and the nation. The newest-generation Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) on the campus of Michigan State University commenced operations in May 2022 as a user facility for the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics. FRIB provides fast, stopped, and reaccelerated beams of rare isotopes for measurements, serving a 1,800-member-strong community of scientists from around the world. Here, this article reviews some of the first results from FRIB, showcasing the breadth of the science discoveries that have already occurred while the facility is ramping up to full capability.

FRIB↗
DOE OSTI2026

Material efficiency technologies in the food and beverage industry

The U.S. food and beverage (F&B) sector is a major contributor to manufacturing gross domestic product and supports substantial employment and economic activity, while exerting significant pressures on land and water resources. At the same time, the industry faces growing expectations to balance its resource-intensive operations without compromising cost competitiveness. Material inefficiencies across the F&B value chain, particularly in raw material use and product loss/waste, lead to substantial financial losses and resource depletion. Thus, the F&B sector requires adoption of solutions and measures to avoid food wastage, reduce raw material consumption and valorize waste to high-value added products. This work presents a comprehensive understanding of the various technology solutions available for the F&B sector. The following two research questions are addressed: “What are the mid-to-high Technology Readiness Level technologies or measures to reduce material use and enable waste valorization in the F&B sector? What are the barriers to their commercial deployment? Additionally, what targeted research and development efforts are needed to overcome these barriers and accelerate their scale-up?” The findings are intended to support evidence-based decision-making, guide strategic investment, and help stakeholders strengthen resilience and competitiveness across the F&B sector.

Nain, Preeti [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000258358959)↗
DOE OSTI2023

Dense nuclear matter equation of state from heavy-ion collisions

The nuclear equation of state (EOS) is at the center of numerous theoretical and experimental efforts in nuclear physics. With advances in microscopic theories for nuclear interactions, the availability of experiments probing nuclear matter under conditions not reached before, endeavors to develop sophisticated and reliable transport simulations to interpret these experiments, and the advent of multi-messenger astronomy, the next decade will bring new opportunities for determining the nuclear matter EOS, elucidating its dependence on density, temperature, and isospin asymmetry. Among controlled terrestrial experiments, collisions of heavy nuclei at intermediate beam energies (from a few tens of MeV/nucleon to about 25 GeV/nucleon in the fixed-target frame) probe the widest ranges of baryon density and temperature, enabling studies of nuclear matter from a few tenths to about 5 times the nuclear saturation density and for temperatures from a few to well above a hundred MeV, respectively. Collisions of neutron-rich isotopes further bring the opportunity to probe effects due to the isospin asymmetry. However, capitalizing on the enormous scientific effort aimed at uncovering the dense nuclear matter EOS, both at RHIC and at FRIB as well as at other international facilities, depends on the continued development of state-of-the-art hadronic transport simulations. Furthermore, this white paper highlights the essential role that heavy-ion collision experiments and hadronic transport simulations play in understanding strong interactions in dense nuclear matter, with an emphasis on how these efforts can be used together with microscopic approaches and neutron star studies to uncover the nuclear EOS.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗