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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Responses of the AC/DC Global Electric Circuit to Volcanic Electrical Activity in the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Eruption on 15 January 2022

Responses of the AC and DC global electric circuits (GECs) to the large eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai (HT-HH) volcano on 15 January 2022 are discussed. The AC-related investigation is based on Schumann resonance (SR) measurements from six stations on four continents. The DC-related investigation utilizes atmospheric electric field (potential gradient, PG) measurements from six recording stations in Europe and the USA. According to data from the GLD360 and WWLLN lightning detection networks, the peak lightning stroke rate, 83/s, was dominated by negative polarity lightning, but the distributions of positive and negative lightning discharges in latitude and longitude around the volcano differed. A global intensification of SR is apparent in connection with the enhanced lightning activity caused by the eruption. SR data-based results confirm that the lightning activity in the eruption dominated the naturally occurring global activity for a period of about 1 hr. The highly localized increase in lightning activity over HT-HH was a unique point source of SR excitation. PG measurements suggest that impulse-like charging of the DC GEC, by ~15%, via negative cloud-to-ground lightning strokes took place twice during the eruption. A time constant of 7 or 8 min has been inferred for near-surface PG changes due to these enhancements. This could be the first direct measurement of the time constant of the GEC near the Earth's surface, as well as the first observation of the direct charging of the DC GEC by a unique atmospheric electrified source.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Relationships among diurnal variations of polar night cloud, precipitation, surface temperatures, and the fair-weather return current of the global electric circuit (GEC)

Over the past five years (June 2017-current), the vertical electric field (E z ) as well as numerous cloud, precipitation and radiation properties have been monitored at the Department of Energy-Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (DOE ARM) North Slope of Alaska (NSA) field site. Comparisons between the composite diurnal averaged fair-weather E z , and composite ceilometer derived cloud base height during the polar night, reveal a significant correlation between the parameters (r = 0.62), supporting previous studies that there is high correlation between local electric field and cloud properties. With the use of extensive instrumentation at the site, such as the Micro Pulse Lidar (MPL), Ka-band Zenith Radar (KAZR), ceilometer, SKYRAD, Precipitation Imaging Package (PIP), among others, this study provides a more comprehensive examination of the diurnal cycle of cloud and precipitation properties along with the localized fair-weather return current of the larger Global Electric Circuit (GEC) system. Comparisons between the composite diurnal averaged fair-weather E z , and cloud thickness, maximum column backscatter, and precipitation particle counts all show similar diurnal variability during the polar night, indicating that during the largest magnitude fair weather E z time periods, clouds bases tend to be higher, clouds are thicker, have a larger column backscatter, and display more precipitating particles. Furthermore, a slight diurnal variability in the polar night surface temperature was found to be highly correlated (r = 0.87) to the longwave downwelling irradiance measured by SKYRAD, indicating that the variations in the physical properties of local clouds could modulate the diurnal polar night surface temperature variability on the order of 0.5 °C/day. In conclusion, these findings emphasize the importance and global nature of the GEC system, with the global aggregate of thunderstorms and electrified clouds potentially influencing polar night cloud properties as well as diurnal wintertime polar surface temperature variation.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Inverter-Based Power Systems From an Electric Circuit Perspective

This presentation reports a twin circuit theory that enables us to interpret power system dynamics from a electric circuit perspective. Our proposed twin circuit theory can roughly prove the dissipating energy flow (DEF) method, and shows the positive impacts of well-designed grid-forming (GFM) inverters on power systems stability.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Implementation of WBG devices in circuits - Electric Drive Technologies Project (Final Technical Report)

The objective of the project is to ensure that SiC devices are reliable and rugged as required in automotive applications for operational life of 300,000 hrs and create new device designs to address various weaknesses in currently available commercial devices. OSU has worked closely with SUNY Polytechnic. OSU has carried out the reliability and ruggedness evaluations of commercial devices as well as those fabricated by SUNY Polytechnic, discussed the results with SUNY Poly, and collaborated with the PI at SUNY Poly to improve the designs with respect to reliability/ruggedness. OSU work focused on reliability/ruggedness evaluation of SiC devices by individually testing them and then evaluate them in a 10 kW, 3 phase inverter system built with a specific purpose of stressing devices using realistic drive cycles such as a 10-minute hill climb. It should be noted that the primary purpose of the 10 kW inverter is to provide a platform for stressing the SiC devices under accelerated but realistic drive conditions.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Enhanced microfabrication using electrochemical techniques

A method is provided for subtractively processing a layer of etchable material formed over an electrically conductive surface region of a workpiece. The workpiece is immersed in a liquid solution, generally but not exclusively a conductive solution, that comprises an etchant for the etchable material, so that etching of the etchable material is initiated. An electric circuit is connected to include a control electrode, a reference electrode, and the electrically conductive surface region of the workpiece. The electric circuit is used to monitor the development process dynamically at each of a plurality of intervals during the etching. The etching is terminated when the electrochemical signal satisfies a criterion indicating that the etching is complete.

Arrington, Christian↗
DOE OSTI2023

Spin-based detection of terahertz and sub-terahertz electromagnetic radiation

Systems and methods for spin-based detection of electromagnetic radiation at terahertz and sub-terahertz frequencies is provided. The detector can include a heterostructure, a magnetic field generator, and an electrical circuit. The heterostructure can include a first layer formed of an antiferromagnetic material (AFM) in contact with a second layer of a heavy metal (HM) or a topological insulator. The magnetic field generator can generate a magnetic field oriented approximately parallel to an easy axis of the first layer and approximately parallel to a propagation direction of electromagnetic radiation. The circuit can be in electrical communication with the second layer. The first layer can inject a spin current into the second layer in response to receipt of electromagnetic radiation having a sub-terahertz or terahertz frequency. The second layer can convert the injected spin current into a potential difference. The circuit can be configured to output a signal corresponding to the potential difference.

Shi, Jing↗
DOE OSTI2023

Anomalous magnetoresistance by breaking ice rule in Bi2Ir2O7/Dy2Ti2O7 heterostructure

Abstract While geometrically frustrated quantum magnets host rich exotic spin states with potentials for revolutionary quantum technologies, most of them are necessarily good insulators which are difficult to be integrated with modern electrical circuit. The grand challenge is to electrically detect the emergent fluctuations and excitations by introducing charge carriers that interact with the localized spins without destroying their collective spin states. Here, we show that, by designing a Bi 2 Ir 2 O 7 /Dy 2 Ti 2 O 7 heterostructure, the breaking of the spin-ice rule in insulating Dy 2 Ti 2 O 7 leads to a charge response in the conducting Bi 2 Ir 2 O 7 measured as anomalous magnetoresistance during the field-induced Kagome ice-to-saturated ice transition. The magnetoresistive anomaly also captures the characteristic angular and temperature dependence of this ice-rule-breaking transition, which has been understood as magnetic monopole condensation. These results demonstrate a novel heteroepitaxial approach for electronically probing the transition between exotic insulating spin states, laying out a blueprint for the metallization of frustrated quantum magnets.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Electrical Energy Storage by Poly(ionic Liquids)

Abstract Manipulating van der Waals (vdW) and ionic interactions in polymers enable energy storage and formations of active or passive components of electrical circuits. The energy storage is achieved by electrically activating ion pairs containing polymers, which create ergotropically favorable non‐equilibrium gradient states. Molecular‐level events responsible for this behavior involve concurrent ion pairs' polarization‐depolarization gradients and conformational changes of aliphatic tails that collectively contribute to lowering local disorder states. Manipulating ionic and vdW interactions stabilizes polarized anion‐cation pairs, thus maintaining electrical energy storage for extended periods. These transparent and easily moldable materials require no multilayered assemblies, and their functional features depend upon polarization conditions and ionic‐vdW interactions, making them applicable in energy storage and other devices transcending classical time intricacy limits.

Liu, Jiahui [Department of Materials Science and E↗
DOE OSTI2025

Electrical Energy Storage by Poly(ionic Liquids)

Abstract Manipulating van der Waals (vdW) and ionic interactions in polymers enable energy storage and formations of active or passive components of electrical circuits. The energy storage is achieved by electrically activating ion pairs containing polymers, which create ergotropically favorable non‐equilibrium gradient states. Molecular‐level events responsible for this behavior involve concurrent ion pairs' polarization‐depolarization gradients and conformational changes of aliphatic tails that collectively contribute to lowering local disorder states. Manipulating ionic and vdW interactions stabilizes polarized anion‐cation pairs, thus maintaining electrical energy storage for extended periods. These transparent and easily moldable materials require no multilayered assemblies, and their functional features depend upon polarization conditions and ionic‐vdW interactions, making them applicable in energy storage and other devices transcending classical time intricacy limits.

Liu, Jiahui [Department of Materials Science and E↗
DOE OSTI2025

Time-resolved electrical potential pump – X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy probe developments for investigating dynamic processes occurring at electrochemical interfaces

Electrode–electrolyte interfaces are of critical importance in several fields, including renewable energy, corrosion, and environmental chemistry. However, investigating these interfaces under operational conditions poses considerable challenges due to the limitations of the instrumentation employed. While recent advancements in in situ and operando techniques have enhanced our comprehension of the steady-state properties of solid-liquid interfaces, the dynamic behaviors of these systems remain inadequately explored. This study introduces a time-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) technique designed to capture transient reaction intermediates and charging dynamics at electrified interfaces. The presented proof-of-principle study demonstrates that electrochemical processes, represented by an equivalent electrical circuit (EEC) model, can be probed and understood using square wave voltage pulses of a potentiostat synchronized to the modified data acquisition of an XPS setup. This method offers a valuable alternative to traditional pump–probe techniques, facilitating the investigation of a broader range of electrochemical systems. A dedicated software package for analyzing time- and energy-resolved XPS with a focus on extracting parameters of the EEC is geared towards benchmarking different EECs in future real-world electrochemical experiments.

Electrochemistry↗
DOE OSTI2026

Multi-Year Electric Field Study at the North Slope of Alaska (OYESNSA) Field Campaign Report

The Global Electric Circuit (GEC) of the atmosphere provides a unique perspective on Earth’s changing climate. Monitoring this global electrical signature provides details of the global nature of electrified clouds and thunderstorms. The North Slope of Alaska (NSA) is a unique location for collecting these electric field measurements. Besides being at the opposite pole from many previous electric field measurements taken at Russia’s Vostok station in Antarctica, this site provides a rare opportunity to use other instruments at the U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) User Facility’s NSA observatory at Utqiaġvik (formerly known as Barrow), such as the Ka-band ARM Zenith Radar (KAZR), upward-facing micropulse lidar (MPL), vertical profile of meteorological measures, and other aerosol measurements. Since 2017, Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi (TAMUCC) has established an observational instrument package, including CS110 electric fields and anemometer, at ARM’s NSA observatory at Utqiaġvik. This enabled the unique opportunity to not only provide information about the global signature of the GEC, but also the physical inputs to the local electric field, by analyzing the physical properties of the simultaneous cloud, wind, and aerosol properties occurring with the vertical electric field.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Multi-Year Electric Field Study at the North Slope of Alaska (OYESNSA) Field Campaign Report

The Global Electric Circuit (GEC) of the atmosphere provides a unique perspective on Earth’s changing climate. Monitoring this global electrical signature provides details of the global nature of electrified clouds and thunderstorms. The North Slope of Alaska (NSA) is a unique location for collecting these electric field measurements. Besides being at the opposite pole from many previous electric field measurements taken at Russia’s Vostok station in Antarctica, this site provides a rare opportunity to use other instruments at the U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) User Facility’s NSA observatory at Utqiaġvik (formerly known as Barrow), such as the Ka-band ARM Zenith Radar (KAZR), upward-facing micropulse lidar (MPL), vertical profile of meteorological measures, and other aerosol measurements. Since 2017, Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi (TAMUCC) has established an observational instrument package, including CS110 electric fields and anemometer, at ARM’s NSA observatory at Utqiaġvik. This enabled the unique opportunity to not only provide information about the global signature of the GEC, but also the physical inputs to the local electric field, by analyzing the physical properties of the simultaneous cloud, wind, and aerosol properties occurring with the vertical electric field.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Soft Coiled Pneumatic Actuator with Integrated Length-Sensing Function for Feedback Control

SPIRA Coil actuators are formed from thin sheets of PET plastic laminated into a coil shape that unfurls like a “party horn” when inflated, while many soft actuators require large pressures to create only modest strains, SPIRA Coils can easily be designed and fabricated to extend over dramatic distances with relatively low working pressures. Internal metalized PET strips separate in the extended portion of the actuator, creating an electrical circuit with a resistance that corresponds to the actuator length. This paper presents and experimentally validates easy-to-use design models for the actuators’ self-retracting spring stiffness, its pneumatic extension force, and its internal length-sensing electrical resistance. Testing of the self-sensing capabilities demonstrates that the embedded sensor can be used to determine the actuator length with virtually no hysteresis. Feedback control with the resistance-based sensing resulted in length-control errors within 5% of the extended actuator length (i.e., 3 cm of 60 cm).

Greenwood, Jacob R. (ORCID:0000000310897854)↗
DOE OSTI2025

Flux-Closure Domain Structures in Ferroelectric K 0.5 Na 0.5 NbO 3 Thin Films

Topological domain structures in ferroelectric materials have garnered increasing attention due to their intriguing physical properties and promising applications. While most existing topological structures in ferroelectric perovskite oxides originate from tetragonal or rhombohedral bulk phases, much less is understood about their counterparts in orthorhombic ferroelectrics. Here, in this work, we employ ferroelectric K 0.5 Na 0.5 NbO 3 (KNN) thin films as a model system and leverage phase-field simulations to theoretically predict the static structures and dynamic behaviors of three types of flux-closure domain configurations: in-plane (Type-I), out-of-plane (Type-II), and superdomain (Type-III) flux-closure structures. We systematically investigate the effects of finite size, misfit strains, and electrical boundary conditions on the formation and switching of these topological structures. For the Type-I structure, size reduction or small misfit strain facilitates a transition of the flux-closure pattern to polar vortices. Type-II structures emerge under open-circuit electrical boundary conditions of the film, forming at the junctions of specific domain walls with the film surface or the film–substrate interface. The formation mechanisms of these two flux-closure structures are rationalized from an energy perspective. We demonstrated switching capabilities of Type-II and Type-III structures by obtaining polarization–electric field hysteresis loops. Our simulations also reveal a reversible electric-field-induced transition between the orthorhombic and rhombohedral ferroelectric phases with a checkerboard domain pattern, during which the integrity of the flux-closure structure is preserved. These findings provide theoretical insights and practical guidance for identifying and manipulating topological structures in low-symmetry ferroelectrics, paving the way for developing energy-efficient microelectronic devices based on topological structures.

P-E loop↗
DOE OSTI2023

ML-ACCEPT: Machine-Learning-enhanced Automated Circuit Configuration and Evaluation of Power Converters

This project, ML-ACCEPT, took a significant step toward achieving the first objective of the DIFFERENTIATE program: to help engineers to more rapidly and cost-effectively consider a wider range of more novel concepts before selecting an engineering-optimal architecture for high-fidelity detailed design and evaluation. Compared to existing methods, the ML-ACCEPT project investigated innovative technologies to make the design of power converters more cost-effective and time-efficient by i) integrating recent breakthroughs in ML, power electronics, simulation software, and optimization to research, develop, and developed a suite of ML-enhanced hypothesis generation tools for power converter design; and ii) facilitating the integration of the proposed software tools into existing power-converter design work-flows. Some existing tools for power-converter design have a certain level of intelligence to aid the design process, but to our knowledge none of them has ML-enhanced capability of automating the electrical circuit design process by selecting, configuring, and tailoring the individual components that enable available resources (e.g., high-voltage DC power) to be converted to the desired output (e.g., lower-voltage DC power with a desired voltage ripple), subject to application-specific (e.g., plasma generation and automotive applications) thermal and packaging considerations. The state-of-the-art circuit design of power converters is still heavily reliant on human experts to select the optimal topology and search for design parameters with human’s experience and intuitions, which can be very time-consuming, inefficient, and labor intensive. The team is composed of University of Michigan-Dearborn (UM-Dearborn), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Modelon Inc., and lighthouse customers.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Advancing Temperature Monitoring of the Bottom Anode in a Direct Current Electric Arc Furnace Operations with Distributed Optical Fiber Sensors.

The bottom anode in the Direct Current Electric Arc Furnace (DC EAF) is critical for completing the electrical circuit necessary for sustaining the arc within the furnace. For pin-type bottom anodes, monitoring of the temperature of select pins instrumented with thermocouples is performed to track bottom wear in the EAF and inform the operator when the furnace should be removed from service. Furthermore, this work presents the results from a plant trial using distributed temperature monitoring of bottom anode pins in a 165-ton DC EAF over a two-month service period utilizing two optical fiber sensing techniques: fiber Bragg grating (FBG) and Rayleigh backscattering (RBS). The early detection of temperature anomalies along the length of the anode pin through distributed sensing enhances operational safety, providing a robust alternative to traditional thermocouples.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Hydrogen from low-density polyethylene via nonthermal plasma: Effects of energy density and process parameters

Nonthermal plasma processes are promising for the modular valorization of plastic waste, especially into hydrogen and carbon materials, due to their high intensity, lack of reliance on catalysts or consumables, and suitability to be directly powered by electricity. We investigate the production of hydrogen from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) as a plastic waste model using streamer Dielectric Barrier Discharge (sDBD) plasma in nitrogen at atmospheric pressure. Here, we examine the effects of process energy density (energy input per unit of feedstock mass), feedstock mass, and plasma intensity (electric voltage) on plasma properties, hydrogen yield and energy efficiency via gas chromatography, optical emission spectroscopy, and electrical diagnostics, together with reactor-scale and nonlinear electric circuit modeling. The characteristic temperature of free electrons in the sDBD plasma is approximately 15000 K (1.3 eV), and that of gas species 10 times lower, demonstrating strong thermal non-equilibrium that can lead to molecular bond scission via charged species impact rather than direct heating. Experimental results show that higher energy density leads to greater hydrogen production and diminishing energy efficiency, and that higher plasma intensity and larger feedstock mass lead to greater hydrogen yield due to higher plasma temperatures and enhanced energy fluxes to the feedstock.

08 HYDROGEN↗