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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 19 records

Improved Smartphone Network Deployment Methods for Explosion Collection

Improved Smartphone Network Deployment Methods for Explosion Collection Samuel Kei Takazawa1, Sarah Popenhagen1, Milton A. Garcés1, Luis Ocampo Giraldo2, Jay Hix2 1University of Hawai?i, 2Idaho National Laboratory Milton A. Garcés, milton@isla.hawaii.edu ETI – Consortium for Enabling Technologies and Innovation: Director, Anna Erickson, Ph.D.

98 - NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL↗

NCERC Provides Unique Opportunities for University Student Researchers

Five students and one faculty member - sponsored by the Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation (DNN, NA 22) university consortia - visited the National Criticality Experiments Research Center (NCERC) in July of 2023 to measure radiation signatures from Category I Special Nuclear Material (SNM) in a week-long measurement campaign organized by staff at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Participants included University of Florida, University of Michigan, and University of Illinois-Champaign Urbana. The measurement campaign was organized on behalf of the Consortium for Monitoring, Testing, and Verification (MTV), the Nuclear Science and Security Consortium (NSSC), and the Consortium for Enabling Technologies and Innovation (ETI).

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

HydroGEN and H2NEW Data Hub

HydroGEN is a multi-lab consortium focused on early-stage R&D in H2 production, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO). The consortium advances research and development (R&D) of innovative materials for advanced water splitting (AWS) technologies to enable clean, sustainable and low-cost ($1/kg H2) hydrogen production and fosters cross-cutting innovation using theory-guided applied materials R&D to advance all emerging water-splitting pathways for hydrogen production. Hydrogen from Next-generation Electrolyzers of Water (H2NEW) is a consortium of nine U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories focused on making large-scale electrolyzers, which produce hydrogen from electricity and water, more durable, efficient, and affordable. The presentation introduces the HydroGEN data hub to the H2NEW consortium and encourages H2NEW members to use it to store and share data with team members and eventually the public. The two consortia share this data hub.

advanced water splitting technologies↗

Foundational Low-Carbon Hydrogen Research

HydroGEN is a multi-lab consortium focused on early-stage R&D in H2 production, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO). The consortium advances research and development (R&D) of innovative materials for advanced water splitting (AWS) technologies to enable clean, sustainable and low-cost ($1/kg H2) hydrogen production and fosters cross-cutting innovation using theory-guided applied materials R&D to advance all emerging water-splitting pathways for hydrogen production. HydroGEN is focused on low technology readiness level AWS technologies, including low- (alkaline exchanged membrane electrolysis) and high-temperature electrolysis (proton-conducting solid oxide electrolysis), photoelectrochecmical (PEC) and solar thermochemical (STCH) water splitting. This presentation will provide an overview of the HydroGEN EMN, its relationship to the H2NEW consortium, technical highlights of a few lab-led R&D projects, and the community appproach to benchmarking and protocol development for advanced water splitting technologies. Low-carbon hydrogen plays a vital role in the carbon dioxide utilization and decarbonization of several chemical and fuel industries.

advanced water splitting materials AEM↗

HydroGEN Overview: A Consortium on Advanced Water Splitting Materials

HydroGEN is a multi-lab consortium focused on early-stage R&D in H2 production, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO). The consortium advances research and development (R&D) of innovative materials for advanced water splitting (AWS) technologies to enable clean, sustainable and low-cost ($1/kg H2) hydrogen production and fosters cross-cutting innovation using theory-guided applied materials R&D to advance all emerging water-splitting pathways for hydrogen production. HydroGEN is focused on low technology readiness level AWS technologies, including low- (alkaline exchanged membrane electrolysis) and high-temperature electrolysis (proton-conducting solid oxide electrolysis), photoelectrochecmical (PEC) and solar thermochemical (STCH) water splitting. This presentation will provide an overview of the HydroGEN EMN and technical highlights of a few lab-led and FOA-awarded R&D projects. HydroGEN continues to grow its community of industry, university, and national laboratories, forming a national innovation ecosystem focused on renewable hydrogen production.

advanced water splitting materials↗

Sustainable Enablers of Knowledge Management Strategies in a Higher Education Institution

By facilitating the capture, organization, and dissemination of knowledge within and beyond the institution, knowledge management (KM) in higher education institutions (HEIs) fuels innovation, enhances research impact, and strengthens collaboration, ultimately leading to the creation of new knowledge and its valuable exchange. However, there is still much to explore in terms of the enablers of knowledge creation, sharing, and transfer. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the enablers of effective KM in the Polytechnique University of Leiria, which serves as a benchmark for other higher education institutions due to its leadership role in RUN-EU, a consortium of European universities. To achieve this, a narrative analysis based on information from SCOPUS and the institute’s website, focusing on innovation, research, and development strategies, is proposed. The findings suggest that for KM initiatives to be successful, they need to be strategically designed, culturally supported, technologically enabled, and integrated into existing workflows.

Santos, Eleonora (ORCID:0000000346930804)↗

Algal Biomass Conversion to Fuels via Combined Algae Processing (CAP): 2022 State of Technology and Future Research

The annual State of Technology (SOT) assessment is an essential activity for platform research conducted under the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO). It allows for the impact of research progress (both directly achieved in-house at NREL and furnished by partner organizations) to be quantified in terms of economic improvements in the overall biofuel production process for a particular biomass processing pathway, whether based on terrestrial or algal biomass feedstocks. As such, initial benchmarks can be established for currently demonstrated performance, and progress can be tracked toward out-year goals to ultimately demonstrate economically viable biofuel technologies. NREL's algae SOT benchmarking efforts focus both on front-end algal biomass production and separately on back-end conversion to fuels through NREL's "combined algae processing" (CAP) pathway. The production model is based on outdoor long-term cultivation data, enabled by comprehensive algal biomass production trials conducted under Development of Integrated Screening, Cultivar Optimization, and Verification Research (DISCOVR) consortium efforts and driven by data furnished by Arizona State University's (ASU's) Arizona Center for Algae Technology and Innovation (AzCATI) test bed site. The CAP model is primarily based on experimental efforts conducted under NREL research and development projects, with some process parameters provided by partner organizations. Assumptions regarding the wet storage of algae use data provided by Idaho National Laboratory (INL), while parts of the polyurethane production process leverage BETO-funded research from collaborators at Algenesis and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). This report focuses on back-end conversion of algal biomass through the CAP pathway, highlighting the 2022 updates to minimum fuel selling price (MFSP). This update incorporates improvements to fermentation performance for two biological pathways through carboxylic acid and 2,3-butanediol (BDO) intermediates, as demonstrated through parallel research on the biochemical conversion of corn stover. Improvements are applied to the glucose fraction of the biomass only, while parameters regarding the conversion of the mannose fraction (not a significant component in corn stover) are maintained consistently with prior CAP SOTs. Additional parameters are also updated to reflect the most current understanding of each pathway, including an increase in the catalyst loading requirement in the ketonization step of the acids pathway and a decrease in the fermentation productivity in the BDO pathway. Additionally, the biomass feedstock costs (minimum biomass selling price [MBSP]), yields, and seasonal variability from the upstream cultivation SOT model were also incorporated into downstream Aspen Plus CAP models.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Algal Biomass Production via Open Pond Algae Farm Cultivation: 2022 State of Technology and Future Research

The annual State of Technology (SOT) assessment is an essential activity for platform research conducted under the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO). It allows for the impact of research progress (both directly achieved in-house at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory [NREL] and furnished by partner organizations) to be quantified in terms of economic improvements in the overall biofuel production process for a particular biomass processing pathway, whether based on terrestrial or algal biomass feedstocks. As such, initial benchmarks can be established for currently demonstrated performance, and progress can be tracked toward out-year goals to ultimately demonstrate economically viable biofuel technologies. NREL's algae SOT benchmarking efforts focus both on front-end algal biomass production and separately on back-end conversion to fuels through NREL's "combined algae processing" (CAP) pathway. The production model is based on outdoor long-term cultivation data, enabled by comprehensive algal biomass production trials conducted under the Development of Integrated Screening, Cultivar Optimization, and Verification Research (DISCOVR) consortium efforts, driven by data furnished by Arizona State University (ASU) at the Arizona Center for Algae Technology and Innovation (AzCATI) testbed site. The CAP model is based on experimental efforts conducted primarily under NREL research and development projects. This report focuses on front-end algal biomass production, documenting the pertinent algal biomass cultivation parameters that were input to the NREL open pond algae farm model. Through partnerships under DISCOVR, collaborators at ASU furnished details on cultivation performance metrics including biomass productivity and harvest densities for recent growth trials done at the AzCATI site. The resulting biomass productivity was calculated at 18.5 g/m2/day (ash-free dry weight [AFDW], annual average) for seasonal cultivation of Picochlorum celeri, Tetraselmis striata LANL1001, and Monoraphidium minutum 26B-AM biomass strains at the ASU site. Picochlorum celeri achieved the best productivity from May to September, with Monoraphidium minutum 26B-AM being used in October, November, March, and April, and Tetraselmis striata employed during winter months (December through February). Beyond the standard SOT models, in Appendix C of this report we also present an industry case study evaluating several scenarios reflective of outdoor cultivation data furnished by an industry collaborator. This case study provides a supplementary datapoint on work being performed elsewhere achieving comparable cultivation productivity with more favorable compositional quality, producing biomass enriched in lipids as may be more optimal for conversion upgrading to fuels and products.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Algal Biomass Production via Open Pond Algae Farm Cultivation: 2023 State of Technology and Future Research

The annual State of Technology (SOT) assessment is an essential activity for platform research conducted under the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO). It allows for the impact of research progress (both directly achieved in-house at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory [NREL] and furnished by partner organizations) to be quantified in terms of economic improvements in the overall biofuel production process for a particular biomass processing pathway, whether based on terrestrial or algal biomass feedstocks. As such, initial benchmarks can be established for currently demonstrated performance, and progress can be tracked toward out-year goals to ultimately demonstrate economically viable biofuel technologies. NREL's algae SOT benchmarking efforts historically focused both on front-end algal biomass production and separately on back-end conversion to fuels through NREL's "combined algae processing" (CAP) pathway. The production model is based on outdoor long-term cultivation data, enabled by comprehensive algal biomass production trials conducted under the Development of Integrated Screening, Cultivar Optimization, and Verification Research (DISCOVR) consortium efforts, driven by data furnished by Arizona State University (ASU) at the Arizona Center for Algae Technology and Innovation (AzCATI) testbed site. The CAP model is based on experimental efforts conducted primarily under NREL research and development projects. This report focuses on front-end algal biomass production, documenting the pertinent algal biomass cultivation parameters that were input to the NREL open pond algae farm model. Through partnerships under DISCOVR, collaborators at ASU furnished details on cultivation performance metrics including biomass productivity and harvest densities for recent growth trials done at the AzCATI site. The resulting biomass productivity was calculated at 16.7 g/m 2 /day (ash-free dry weight [AFDW], annual average) for seasonal cultivation of Picochlorum celeri TG2 and Monoraphidium minutum 26B-AM biomass strains at the ASU site. Picochlorum celeri achieved the best productivity from April to September, with Monoraphidium minutum 26B-AM being used between October and March. Tetraselmis striata LANL1001, usually part of the strain rotation in previous cultivation SOTs, was supplanted by Monoraphidium minutum 26B-AM in this year's outdoor cultivation trials. Finally, building from an industry case study presented in the 2022 SOT report, in the Appendix of this report we provide an update on further improved data furnished by an industry collaborator and resultant impacts on economics reflecting several seasonal scenarios. This case study provides a supplementary datapoint on work being performed elsewhere with a more dedicated focus on improved compositional quality, producing biomass enriched in lipids as may be more optimal for conversion upgrading to fuels and products.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Hydrogen Consortium: Technical Progress on Renewable Hydrogen Production R&D

HydroGEN (https://www.h2awsm.org/) Energy Materials Network (EMN) is an U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) EERE Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO)-funded consortium that aims to accelerate the discovery and development of advanced water splitting materials (AWSM) for clean, low-cost hydrogen production. This is in line with the H2@Scale initiative (https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/h2-scale), with the goal to meet U.S. DOE's Hydrogen Shot production cost target of $1/kg H2 within 1 decade. Materials innovations are key to enhancing performance, durability, and cost of hydrogen generation technologies. Large scale, low cost hydrogen from diverse domestic resources can enable an economically competitive and environmentally beneficial future energy system across multiple sectors. HydroGEN is focused on low technology readiness level AWS technologies, including low- (alkaline exchanged membrane electrolysis) and high-temperature electrolysis (proton-conducting solid oxide electrolysis), photoelectrochecmical (PEC) and solar thermochemical (STCH) water splitting. This presentation will provide an overview of the HydroGEN EMN and technical highlights of a few lab-led and FOA-awarded R&D projects. HydroGEN continues to grow its community of industry, university, and national laboratories, forming a national innovation ecosystem focused on renewable hydrogen production.

clean hydrogen↗

HydroGEN Overview: A Consortium on Advanced Water Splitting Materials

HydroGEN (https://www.h2awsm.org/) Energy Materials Network (EMN) is an U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) EERE Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO)-funded consortium that aims to accelerate the discovery and development of advanced water splitting materials (AWSM) for clean, low-cost hydrogen production. This is in line with the H2@Scale initiative (https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/h2-scale), with the goal to meet U.S. DOE's Hydrogen Shot production cost target of $1/kg H2 within 1 decade. Materials innovations are key to enhancing performance, durability, and cost of hydrogen generation technologies. Large scale, low cost hydrogen from diverse domestic resources can enable an economically competitive and environmentally beneficial future energy system across multiple sectors. HydroGEN is focused on low technology readiness level AWS technologies, including low- (alkaline exchanged membrane electrolysis) and high-temperature electrolysis (proton-conducting solid oxide electrolysis), photoelectrochecmical (PEC) and solar thermochemical (STCH) water splitting. This presentation will provide an overview of the HydroGEN EMN and technical highlights of a few lab-led and FOA-awarded R&D projects. HydroGEN continues to grow its community of industry, university, and national laboratories, forming a national innovation ecosystem focused on renewable hydrogen production.

clean hydrogen↗

Environmental and Economic Implications of Emerging Plastic Recycling Technologies

Recycling will play a crucial role in mitigating plastic pollution and promoting a circular economy for polymers. Quantitative analysis can help guide the optimization and implementation of these plastic management strategies, enabling increased circularity while minimizing costs, energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and other environmental impacts. This talk will outline the Bio-Optimized Technologies to keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment (BOTTLE) Consortium's approach to analysis-guided plastic recycling research. Stringent process modelling, life cycle assessment, and techno-economic analysis are used to benchmark the technical feasibility, environmental impacts, and costs of chemical and biological recycling technologies in comparison to conventional fossil fuel-based plastic manufacturing. Across emerging recycling strategies, several key challenges become apparent - including plastic feedstock pretreatment requirements, high energy or chemical use, and recycled plastic yields and quality - highlighting opportunities for future innovation. Through this consistent and in-depth analysis approach, BOTTLE aims to provide the plastics community with key metrics and insights to drive plastic recycling innovation towards a more sustainable and circular economy.

circular economy↗

Electric Drive Technologies Consortium (EDTC)/ Cost competitive, high-Performance, highly Reliable (CPR) Power Devices on 4H-SiC (Final Report)

4H-Silicon carbide (4H-SiC) is a wide bandgap semiconductor that offers superior material properties over silicon, including higher critical electric field, thermal conductivity, and electron saturation velocity. These advantages make 4H-SiC highly attractive for high-voltage, high-efficiency power electronics. However, realizing the full potential of SiC requires device technologies that are not only high-performing but also manufacturable and reliable under real-world operating conditions. This report summarizes the outcomes of a five-year R&D effort funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under the Electric Drive Technologies Consortium (EDTC), focused on developing cost-competitive, high-performance, and highly reliable (CPR) power devices on 4H-SiC substrates. The program targeted scalable and manufacturable 1.2 kV-class SiC MOSFETs optimized for next-generation electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and industrial power conversion. The project delivered transformative advancements in SiC power device performance and ruggedness. Particularly, Specific on-resistance (R on,sp ) was reduced by up to 37%, from ~4.0 m$\Omega \cdot$cm 2 in earlier designs to an industry-leading 2.40 m$\Omega \cdot$cm 2 , driven by optimized doping, refined JFET widths, and layout engineering. Breakdown voltages (BV) exceeded 1600 V, marking improvement over legacy baselines, and demonstrating the robustness of newly implemented junction profiles and edge terminations. Short-circuit withstand time (SCWT) saw a remarkable 4$\times$ increase, from ~2 $\mu$s to over 8 $\mu$s, achieved through the successful deployment of deep P-well structures (~1.8–2.0 $\mu$m) via channeling implantation. This innovative process breakthrough enabled precise junction formation without MeV-class implantation tools, reduced leakage under high field stress, and allowed even the shortest-channel devices (down to 0.3 $\mu$m) to achieve both high BV and excellent ruggedness—breaking the traditional trade-off between conduction efficiency and blocking capability. Several novel architectures pushed the performance envelope further. JBSFETs—featuring embedded Schottky portions—eliminated bipolar degradation and drastically reduced third-quadrant leakage, while Ladder MOSFETs introduced a clever orthogonal conduction path that achieved a 15.4% reduction in R on,sp over standard linear designs. Switching performance reached new benchmarks: short-channel devices showed a 31% reduction in total switching energy compared to 0.5 $\mu$m counterparts, while maintaining manageable gate drive requirements. Layout-optimized structures not only improved transconductance but also accelerated switching transitions, pointing to real-world benefits in converter-level efficiency. The devices also passed rigorous reliability validation. Stress-tested across TDDB, HTGB, HTRB, HVP, and burn-in, the devices screened under 30 V/10 hr and 43 V/1 s protocols consistently exhibited tighter lifetime distributions and long-term oxide robustness. These screening techniques proved effective in identifying latent defects and ensuring deployment-grade reliability. Meanwhile, advanced 3D TCAD simulations revealed and resolved electric field hotspots—particularly in HEXFET corners—where fields exceeding 4.8 MV/cm were mitigated through geometry-aware layout corrections. Overall, the results of this project demonstrate a manufacturable and scalable SiC power device platform that addresses key DOE performance targets for efficient, robust, and reliable 1.2kV 4H-SiC Power Devices. The developed technologies represent a meaningful step forward in the commercial readiness of high-voltage SiC solutions and provide a strong foundation for continued advancement in wide bandgap power electronics.

42 ENGINEERING↗

A standards perspective on genomic data reusability and reproducibility

Genomic and metagenomic sequence data provides an unprecedented ability to re-examine findings, offering a transformative potential for advancing research, developing computational tools, enhancing clinical applications, and fostering scientific collaboration. However, effective and ethical reuse of genomics data is hampered by numerous technical and social challenges. The International Microbiome and Multi’Omics Standards Alliance (IMMSA, https://www.microbialstandards.org/) and the Genomic Standards Consortium (GSC, https://gensc.org) hosted a 5-part seminar series “A Year of Data Reuse” in 2024 to explore challenges and opportunities of data reuse and reproducibility across disparate domains of the genomic sciences. Addressing these challenges will require a multifaceted approach, including common metadata reporting, clear communication, standardized protocols, improved data management infrastructure, ethical guidelines, and collaborative policies that prioritize transparency and accessibility. We offer strategies to enable responsible and technically feasible data reuse, recognition of data reproducibility challenges, and emphasizing the importance of cross-disciplinary efforts in the pursuit of open science and data-driven innovation.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Process innovations to enable viable enzymatic poly(ethylene terephthalate) recycling

Enzymatic depolymerization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) has received considerable attention for closed-loop polyester recycling. However, current approaches for enzymatic PET recycling face challenges to achieve commercial viability with lower environmental impacts compared with virgin polyester manufacturing. Here, in this study, we present multiple process innovations for enzymatic PET recycling that enable economic and environmental feasibility. We show that substrate amorphization through extrusion and quenching is energy-efficient and enables near-quantitative enzymatic conversion in 50 h. Using ammonium hydroxide for pH control and thermolysis of the isolated diammonium terephthalate salt reduces the acid and base consumption by >99%, lowering annual operating expenses by 74%. Fed-batch processing increased ethylene glycol concentration, leading to a 65% reduction in energy consumption for ethylene glycol recovery. These improvements were modeled in an optimal process, with recycled PET estimated to be US$\$$1.51 kg -1 relative to US domestic virgin PET at US$\$$1.87 kg -1 and eliminating key life cycle obstacles to scale this technology.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

BOTTLE 2 - Analysis

The use of analysis is foundational to BOTTLE. In particular, we conduct techno-economic analysis (TEA), life cycle assessment (LCA), and supply chain modeling for each new BOTTLE innovation, spanning new deconstruction and upcycling technologies to redesigned polymers. These critical analysis tools are used in parallel with laboratory research to ensure that BOTTLE technologies can ultimately meet our key metrics. The BOTTLE team used analysis early in the current 3-year project cycle to identify research priorities from a scale, energy, and economics perspective (Nicholson et al., Joule 2021), and recently we presented a comprehensive framework for comparing new circularity-focused approaches to linear, incumbent practices (Nicholson et al., Ann. Rev. Chem. Biomolec. Eng. 2022). This presentation will also review case studies in analysis for closed-loop PET recycling across a range of recycling methods, baseline studies that we have conducted for plastics pyrolysis and gasification as another comparator for BOTTLE technologies, and a comprehensive study of existing closed-loop recycling technologies from a full suite of environmental impacts and feedstock quality metrics. We have undertaken studies of circular polymers being developed in the Redesign task, and we will present an exemplary case for a bio-based acrylic polymer that can replace polymethyl methacrylate. Overall, analysis is critical to enable the BOTTLE Consortium to focus on impactful, realistic technologies.

BIOMASS FUELS↗

Modeling of Reactor Design and Optimization for Scale-Up of the Catalyxx Process for Ethanol Conversion to Higher Alcohol Biofuels

This report summarizes the results of a collaborative efforts between Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Catalyxx Inc. to investigate scale-up of Catalyxx’s Ethanol upgrading to higher alcohols process. The study was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) under CRADA (Cooperative Research and Development Agreement) No: NFE-20-08396. The project is part of the Direct Funding Opportunity (DFO) for Computational Science to Enable Bioenergy program which utilized computational toolsets developed by the Consortium for Computational Physics and Chemistry, a multi-laboratory consortium in BETO. The report here summarizes a packed-bed reactor modeling effort spanning the range from lab to industrial scale (from 4 gram to 5-ton catalyst beds), and examining reactor design, process optimization strategies, and suggested design and operating conditions for Catalyxx’s ethanol upgrading plants. The results in this report have been shared in monthly steering meetings and presentations are available in the shared data house owned by Catalyxx. The modeling effort helped to define optimum operation conditions for maximum alcohol selectivity and yield: i.e., temperature control scenarios ranging from adiabatic to isothermal, feed rate, pressure, and inlet H 2 /Ethanol ratio. The modeling results were verified at lab-(4 gram) and pre-pilot (4 kg) scales and has been used to evaluate a 5-ton packed-bed reactor and identify operating conditions to maximize the butanol yield. Special focus was given to understanding mass-transfer effects in the pre-pilot and pilot-scale reactors, over the domain of flow rate, pressure, feed composition, pellet size, shape, porosity, bed voidage, and reactor dimensions (i.e., length/diameter). Modeling was also used to evaluate innovative reactor design concepts such as water removal to improve alcohol selectivity and yield, and a reactor with an additional side inlet to facilitate quenching. These concepts were thoroughly explored, and potential benefits were disclosed. The results in this report are summarized and described qualitatively to protect the IP rights of Catalyxx. The details have been shared with the Catalyxx team in the regular steering meetings. At the end of the project, Catalyxx Inc. announced a successful demonstration of pilot scale operation in Seville, Spain.

02 PETROLEUM↗

The scientific case for concurrent neutron and X-ray scattering and spectroscopy

The interrogation of materials with X-rays or neutrons to determine structure, energetics, and dynamics is fundamental to advancing physical and chemical materials science and enabling innovative material technologies. A persistent challenge in materials development is that progress depends on understanding structure and dynamics across multiple length and time scales in increasingly complex, multicomponent systems featuring interfaces, heterogeneity, and hierarchical organization. Despite rapidly growing demands on materials characterization, current experimental approaches are almost exclusively based on isolated X-ray or neutron scattering and spectroscopy, reflecting a paradigm largely unchanged for decades. To assess the scientific need for a new experimental paradigm, a 3-day workshop sponsored by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) was held at the SpringHill Suites, San Jose, California, from June 2 to 4, 2022. The workshop brought together 70 national and international experts who critically evaluated opportunities enabled by concurrent neutron and X-ray (NeX) scattering, spectroscopy, and imaging experiments. The participants reached a clear consensus that establishing NeX capabilities is crucial for advancing the science of complex materials in the United States. This report illustrates the scientific drivers for NeX experiments through representative examples spanning biomaterials, energy materials, soft matter, nanomaterials, quantum materials, geoscience, and applied materials research. The complementarity of neutrons and X-rays is essential for robust model development and refinement, particularly in multiphase and multicomponent systems. While joint refinement of data from separate experiments is valuable, concurrent measurements uniquely eliminate uncertainties arising from sample evolution, environmental drift, and irreproducibility associated with experiments performed at different locations and times. Realizing NeX capabilities will require the development of new instrumentation, data analysis frameworks, and robust sample environments compatible with both neutron and X-ray probes. Addressing these challenges will enable unambiguous interpretation of complex materials behavior and open new frontiers in materials research.

X-ray↗