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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 OSTI2018

Enhancement of Proton Conductivity in Nonporous Metal–Organic Frameworks: The Role of Framework Proton Density and Humidity

Owing to their inherent pore structure, porous metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) can undergo postsynthetic modification, such as loading extra-framework proton carriers. However, strategies for improving the proton conductivity for nonporous MOFs are largely lacking, although increasing numbers of nonporous MOFs exhibit promising proton conductivities. Often, high humidity is required for nonporous MOFs to achieve high conductivities, but to date no clear mechanisms have been experimentally identified. Here we describe the new materials MFM-550(M), [M(HL 1 )], (H 4 L 1 = biphenyl-4,4'-diphosphonic acid; M = La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Gd, Ho), MFM-550(Ba), [Ba(H 2 L 1 )], and MFM-555(M), [M(HL 2 )], (H 4 L 2 = benzene-1,4-diphosphonic acid; M = La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Gd, Ho), and report enhanced proton conductivities in these nonporous materials by (i) replacing the metal ion to one with a lower oxidation state, (ii) reducing the length of the organic ligand, and (iii) introducing additional acidic protons on the MOF surface. Increased framework proton density in these materials can lead to an enhancement in proton conductivity of up to 4 orders of magnitude. Additionally, we report a comprehensive investigation using in situ 2H NMR and neutron spectroscopy, coupled with molecular dynamic modeling, to elucidate the role of humidity in assembling interconnected networks for proton hopping. This study constructs a relationship between framework proton density and the corresponding proton conductivity in nonporous MOFs, and directly explains the role of both surface protons and external water in assembling the proton conduction pathways.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2001

Accuracy for detection of simulated lesions: comparison of fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery, proton density--weighted, and T2-weighted synthetic brain MR imaging

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to determine the effects of MR sequence (fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery [FLAIR], proton density--weighted, and T2-weighted) and of lesion location on sensitivity and specificity of lesion detection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We generated FLAIR, proton density-weighted, and T2-weighted brain images with 3-mm lesions using published parameters for acute multiple sclerosis plaques. Each image contained from zero to five lesions that were distributed among cortical-subcortical, periventricular, and deep white matter regions; on either side; and anterior or posterior in position. We presented images of 540 lesions, distributed among 2592 image regions, to six neuroradiologists. We constructed a contingency table for image regions with lesions and another for image regions without lesions (normal). Each table included the following: the reviewer's number (1--6); the MR sequence; the side, position, and region of the lesion; and the reviewer's response (lesion present or absent [normal]). We performed chi-square and log-linear analyses. RESULTS: The FLAIR sequence yielded the highest true-positive rates (p < 0.001) and the highest true-negative rates (p < 0.001). Regions also differed in reviewers' true-positive rates (p < 0.001) and true-negative rates (p = 0.002). The true-positive rate model generated by log-linear analysis contained an additional sequence-location interaction. The true-negative rate model generated by log-linear analysis confirmed these associations, but no higher order interactions were added. CONCLUSION: We developed software with which we can generate brain images of a wide range of pulse sequences and that allows us to specify the location, size, shape, and intrinsic characteristics of simulated lesions. We found that the use of FLAIR sequences increases detection accuracy for cortical-subcortical and periventricular lesions over that associated with proton density- and T2-weighted sequences.

NASA Discipline Neuroscience↗
DOE OSTI2019

Measurement of spleen fat on MRI-proton density fat fraction arises from reconstruction of noise

Purpose: This study compares splenic proton density fat fraction (PDFF) measured using confounder-corrected chemical shift-encoded (CSE)-MRI to magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in human patients at 3T. Methods: This was a prospectively designed ancillary study to various previously described single-center studies performed in adults and children with known or suspected nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Patients underwent magnitude-based MRI (MRI-M), complex-based MRI (MRI-C), high signal-to-noise variants (Hi-SNR MRI-M and Hi-SNR MRI-C), and MRS at 3T for spleen PDFF estimation. PDFF from CSE-MRI methods were compared to MRS-PDFF using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Demographics were summarized descriptively. Spearman’s rank correlations were computed pairwise between CSE-MRI methods. Individual patient measurements were plotted for qualitative assessment. A significance level of 0.05 was used. Results: Forty-seven patients (20 female, 27 male) including 12 adults (median 55 years old) and 35 children (median 12 years old). Median PDFF estimated by MRS, MRI-M, Hi-SNR MRI-M, MRI-C, and Hi-SNR MRI-C was 1.0, 2.3, 1.9, 2.2, and 2.0%. The four CSE-MRI methods estimated statistically significant higher spleen PDFF values compared to MRS (p < 0.0001 for all). Pairwise associations in spleen PDFF values measured by different CSE-MRI methods were weak, with the highest Spearman’s rank correlations being 0.295 between MRI-M and Hi-SNR MRI-M; none were significant after correction for multiple comparisons. No qualitative relationship was observed between PDFF measurements among the various methods. Conclusion: Overestimation of PDFF by CSE-MRI compared to MRS and poor agreement between related CSE-MRI methods suggest that non-zero PDFF values in human spleen are artifactual.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Inter-reader agreement of magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction and its longitudinal change in a clinical trial of adults with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Purpose: To determine the inter-reader agreement of magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction (PDFF) and its longitudinal change in a clinical trial of adults with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Study type: We performed a secondary analysis of a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial of a bile acid sequestrant in 45 adults with NASH. A six-echo spoiled gradient-recalled-echo magnitude-based fat quantification technique was performed at 3 T. Three independent readers measured MRI-PDFF by placing one primary and two additional regions of interest (ROIs) in each segment at both time points. Cross-sectional agreement between the three readers was evaluated using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) and coefficients of variation (CV). Additionally, we used Bland–Altman analyses to examine pairwise agreement between the three readers at baseline, end of treatment (EOT), and for longitudinal change. Results: Using all ROIs by all readers, mean PDFF at baseline, at EOT, and mean change in PDFF was 16.1%, 16.0%, and 0.07%, respectively. The 27-ROI PDFF measurements had 0.998 ICC and 1.8% CV at baseline, 0.998 ICC and 1.8% CV at EOT, and 0.997 ICC for longitudinal change. The 9-ROI PDFF measurements had corresponding values of 0.997 and 2.6%, 0.996 and 2.4%, and 0.994. Using 27 ROIs, the magnitude of the bias between readers for whole-liver PDFF measurement ranged from 0.03% to 0.06% points at baseline, 0.01% to 0.07% points at EOT, and 0.01% to 0.02% points for longitudinal change. Conclusion: Inter-reader agreement for measuring whole-liver PDFF and its longitudinal change is high. 9-ROI measurements have only slightly lower agreement than 27-ROI measurements.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2016

SU-G-IeP1-07: Inaccuracy of Lesion Blood Flow Quantification Related to the Proton Density Reference Image in Arterial Spin Labeling MRI of Brain Tumors

Purpose: Cerebral blood flow quantification in arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI requires an estimate of the equilibrium magnetization of blood, which is often obtained by a set of proton density (PD) reference image. Normally, a constant blood-brain partition coefficient is assumed across the brain. However, this assumption may not be valid for brain lesions. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of lesion-related PD variations on ASL quantification in patients with brain tumors. Methods: MR images for posttreatment evaluation of 42 patients with brain tumors were retrospectively analyzed. These images were acquired on a 3T MRI scanner, including T2-weighted FLAIR, 3D pseudo-continuous ASL and post-contrast T1-weighted images. Anatomical images were coregistered with ASL images using the SPM software. Regions of interest (ROIs) of the enhancing and FLAIR lesions were manually drawn on the coregistered images. ROIs of the contralateral normal appearing tissues were also determined, with the consideration of approximating coil sensitivity patterns in lesion ROIs. Relative lesion blood flow (lesion/contralateral tissue) was calculated from both the CBF map (dependent on the PD) and the ΔM map for comparison. Results: The signal intensities in both enhancing and FLAIR lesions were significantly different than contralateral tissues on the PD reference image (p<0.001). The percent signal difference ranged from −15.9 to 19.2%, with a mean of 5.4% for the enhancing lesion, and from −2.8 to 22.9% with a mean of 10.1% for the FLAIR lesion. The high/low lesion-related PD signal resulted in inversely proportional under-/over-estimation of blood flow in both enhancing and FLAIR lesions. Conclusion: Significant signal differences were found between lesions and contralateral tissues in the PD reference image, which introduced errors in blood flow quantification in ASL. The error can be up to 20% in individual patients with an average of 5- 10% for the group of patients with brain tumors.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1991

High energy efficiency and high power density proton exchange membrane fuel cells: Electrode kinetics and mass transport

The development of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell power plants with high energy efficiencies and high power densities is gaining momentum because of the vital need of such high levels of performance for extraterrestrial (space, underwater) and terrestrial (power source for electric vehicles) applications. Since 1987, considerable progress has been made in achieving energy efficiencies of about 60 percent at a current density of 200 mA/sq cm and high power densities (greater than 1 W/sq cm) in PEM fuel cells with high (4 mg/sq cm) or low (0.4 mg/sq cm) platinum loadings in electrodes. The following areas are discussed: (1) methods to obtain these high levels of performance with low Pt loading electrodes - by proton conductor impregnation into electrodes, localization of Pt near front surface; (2) a novel microelectrode technique which yields electrode kinetic parameters for oxygen reduction and mass transport parameters; (3) demonstration of lack of water transport from anode to cathode; (4) modeling analysis of PEM fuel cell for comparison with experimental results and predicting further improvements in performance; and (5) recommendations of needed research and development for achieving the above goals.

Supramaniam Srinivasan↗
NASA NTRS1993

High power density proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells use a perfluorosulfonic acid solid polymer film as an electrolyte which simplifies water and electrolyte management. Their thin electrolyte layers give efficient systems of low weight, and their materials of construction show extremely long laboratory lifetimes. Their high reliability and their suitability for use in a microgravity environment makes them particularly attractive as a substitute for batteries in satellites utilizing high-power, high energy-density electrochemical energy storage systems. In this investigation, the Dow experimental PEM (XUS-13204.10) and unsupported high platinum loading electrodes yielded very high power densities, of the order of 2.5 W cm(exp -2). A platinum black loading of 5 mg per cm(exp 2) was found to be optimum. On extending the three-dimensional reaction zone of fuel cell electrodes by impregnating solid polymer electrolyte into the electrode structures, Nafion was found to give better performance than the Dow experimental PEM. The depth of penetration of the solid polymer electrolyte into electrode structures was 50-70 percent of the thickness of the platinum-catalyzed active layer. However, the degree of platinum utilization was only 16.6 percent and the roughness factor of a typical electrode was 274.

Murphy, Oliver J.↗
DOE OSTI2019

The Proton Density of States in Confined Water (H2O)

The hydrogen density of states (DOS) in confined water has been probed by inelastic neutron scattering spectra in a wide range of its P–T phase diagram. The liquid–liquid transition and the dynamical crossover from the fragile (super-Arrhenius) to strong (Arrhenius) glass forming behavior have been studied, by taking into account the system polymorphism in both the liquid and amorphous solid phases. The interest is focused in the low energy region of the DOS ( E < 10 meV) and the data are discussed in terms of the energy landscape (local minima of the potential energy) approach. In this latest research, we consider a unit scale energy (EC) linked to the water local order governed by the hydrogen bonding (HB). All the measured spectra, scaled according to such energy, evidence a universal power law behavior with different exponents ( γ ) in the strong and fragile glass forming regions, respectively. In the first case, the DOS data obey the Debye squared-frequency law, whereas, in the second one, we obtain a value predicted in terms of the mode-coupling theory (MCT) ( γ ≃ 1.6 ).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1993

Star tracker operation in a high density proton field

Algorithms that reject transient signals due to proton effects on charge coupled device (CCD) sensors have been implemented in the HDOS ASTRA-l Star Trackers to be flown on the TOPEX mission scheduled for launch in July 1992. A unique technique for simulating a proton-rich environment to test trackers is described, as well as the test results obtained. Solar flares or an orbit that passes through the South Atlantic Anomaly can subject the vehicle to very high proton flux levels. There are three ways in which spurious proton generated signals can impact tracker performance: the many false signals can prevent or extend the time to acquire a star; a proton-generated signal can compromise the accuracy of the star's reported magnitude and position; and the tracked star can be lost, requiring reacquisition. Tests simulating a proton-rich environment were performed on two ASTRA-1 Star Trackers utilizing these new algorithms. There were no false acquisitions, no lost stars, and a significant reduction in reported position errors due to these improvements.

Miklus, Kenneth J.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Light front synchronization and rest frame densities of the proton: Electromagnetic densities

We clarify the physical origin and meaning of the two-dimensional relativistic densities of the light front formalism. The densities are shown to originate entirely from the use of light front time instead of instant form time, which physically corresponds to using an alternative synchronization convention. This is shown by using tilted light front coordinates, which consist of light front time and ordinary spatial coordinates, and which are also used to show that the obtained densities describe a system at rest rather than at infinite momentum. These coordinates allow all four components of the electromagnetic current density to be given clear physical meanings. We explicate the formalism for spin-half targets, obtaining charge and current densities of the proton and neutron using empirical form factor parametrizations, as well as up and down quark densities and currents. Angular modulations in the densities of transversely polarized states are explained as originating from redshifts and blueshifts due to quarks moving in different longitudinal directions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2016

ENERGETIC NEUTRAL HYDROGEN OBSERVATIONS DEMONSTRATE THAT VOYAGER 1 IS NOT OBSERVING THE EXTRAORDINARILY STRONG INTERSTELLAR MAGNETIC FIELD

It is generally believed that Voyager 1 ( V1 ) is now in interstellar space, having crossed the heliopause at a heliocentric distance of 121.58 au in late August of 2012. Here we use recently published spectra of energetic neutral hydrogen, and the magnetic field and energetic particles directly measured by V1 to find the average pressure in the inner heliosheath (termination shock to 122 au). This pressure turns out to be surprisingly large, (3.57 ± 0.71) × 10{sup −12} dyn cm{sup −2}, and is completely dominated by pressures of pickup ions (PUIs), created in the inner heliosheath, and their suprathermal tails (43%), and PUIs and their tails that are produced upstream of the termination shock and enter the heliosheath (46%). We compute the total particle pressure in the outer heliosheath near the heliopause from distribution functions of the interstellar plasma and locally created PUIs using profiles of proton density, proton temperature, and neutral hydrogen density from model 2 in Zank et al., and find it to be at most 7.7 × 10{sup −13} dyn cm{sup −2}. Balancing pressure across the heliopause, thus requires an unusually large magnetic pressure (2.8 × 10{sup −12} dyn cm{sup −2}). The resulting strength and 1 σ uncertainty of the draped magnetic field in the outer heliosheath near the heliopause is 0.839 ± 0.106 nT. The 3 σ lower limit field strength (0.52 nT) is greater than the field of ∼0.43 ± 0.02 nT measured by V1 , implying that there is less than 1% probability that V1 is measuring the interstellar draped field.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1988

Magnetic clouds, geomagnetic disturbances, and cosmic ray decreases

Nineteen magnetic clouds are identified in the years from 1978 through 1982 and studied using superposed epoch analysis. The magnetic-field intensity, proton density and proton temperature are enhanced ahead of magnetic clouds that are preceded by shock, while strong magnetic-field intensity and low proton temperature are observed within the clouds. A relatively large (about 2.5 percent) decrease in cosmic-ray intensity is associated with magnetic clouds that are preceded by a shock, perhaps caused by the turbulent sheath behind an interplanetary shock ahead of the magnetic cloud, whereas only a small (0.5 percent) decrease in intensity is associated with the magnetic cloud itself. Magnetic clouds can produce geomagnetic activity with a decrease in Dst index of the order 100 gamma. The magnitude of the change in the Dst index for the case when southward fields arrive first is comparable to that for the case when northward fields arrive first, and the phase is such that geomagnetic activity is associated with southward fields.

Zhang, G.↗
DOE OSTI2016

LONG-TERM TRENDS IN THE SOLAR WIND PROTON MEASUREMENTS

We examine the long-term time evolution (1965–2015) of the relationships between solar wind proton temperature ( T {sub p}) and speed ( V {sub p}) and between the proton density ( n {sub p}) and speed using OMNI solar wind observations taken near Earth. We find a long-term decrease in the proton temperature–speed ( T {sub p}– V {sub p}) slope that lasted from 1972 to 2010, but has been trending upward since 2010. Since the solar wind proton density–speed ( n {sub p}– V {sub p}) relationship is not linear like the T {sub p}– V {sub p} relationship, we perform power-law fits for n {sub p}– V {sub p}. The exponent (steepness in the n {sub p}– V {sub p} relationship) is correlated with the solar cycle. This exponent has a stronger correlation with current sheet tilt angle than with sunspot number because the sunspot number maxima vary considerably from cycle to cycle and the tilt angle maxima do not. To understand this finding, we examined the average n {sub p} for different speed ranges, and found that for the slow wind n {sub p} is highly correlated with the sunspot number, with a lag of approximately four years. The fast wind n {sub p} variation was less, but in phase with the cycle. This phase difference may contribute to the n {sub p}– V {sub p} exponent correlation with the solar cycle. These long-term trends are important since empirical formulas based on fits to T {sub p} and V {sub p} data are commonly used to identify interplanetary coronal mass ejections, but these formulas do not include any time dependence. Changes in the solar wind density over a solar cycle will create corresponding changes in the near-Earth space environment and the overall extent of the heliosphere.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1973

Thermal and suprathermal plasma densities in the outer magnetosphere

Using the low-frequency cutoff of electromagnetic noise trapped in the magnetosphere at frequencies above the local plasma frequency, it is now possible to make very accurate, + or - 1%, electron density measurements in the low density region between the magnetopause and plasmapause. This technique for measuring the total plasma density was used, together with measurements of the suprathermal proton intensities with the LEPEDEA instrumentation on the IMP-6 spacecraft, to determine the thermal proton densities in the region between the plasmapause and magnetopause. Although the thermal protons usually account for a significant fraction, approximately 50%, of the total proton density in this region, in some cases, particularly at the larger radial distances the density of the thermal protons sometimes drops to a very small fraction, 5%, of the total density and nearly all of the plasma consists of suprathermal particles.

Gurnett, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Hydrogen density and proton flux in the topside ionosphere over Arecibo, Puerto Rico, from incoherent scatter observations.

Incoherent scatter observations of the topside ionosphere over Arecibo, Puerto Rico, have been analyzed and interpreted to give values for the neutral hydrogen density and vertical proton flux throughout a 30 hr period on December 7 and 8, 1965. The neutral hydrogen density is of the order of 1,000,000 per cu cm at 520 km, agreeing well with other recent measurements. A diurnal variation of about 2-1 was found, which confirms recent theoretical predictions. The vertical proton flux attained a maximum value of about one billion per sq cm per sec, being upward in the daytime and downward at night. The daytime flux appears to be of comparable magnitude with the limiting flux permitted, but the shape of the ion density profile suggests that the flux was not actually a limiting flux. For the night in question, the downward proton flux appears to account for the maintenance of the F layer, perhaps with some additional contribution from neutral winds and/or electric fields.

Ho, M. C.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Pressure-balanced structures between 1 AU and 24 AU and their implications for solar wind electrons and interstellar pickup ions

'Pressure-balanced structures' (PBSs) in the heliosphere are microscale phenomena with a characteristic length along the radial dimension of the order of 0.05 AU across which the sum of the thermal pressures and the magnetic pressure is constant. PBSs have been identified in the Voyager data from 1 AU to 24 AU. If the density of pickup ions were proportional to the proton density across a PBS, and if the electron pressure were negligible, then from measurements of the magnetic field and the proton density and temperature across pressure balanced structures a pickup ion density is derived which is significantly smaller than the density predicted by a model based on the same assumption. This suggests that there are processes which 'smear out' the pressure of the pickup ions so that it is nearly constant on the scale of a PBS. If the pressure of the pickup ions is uniform across a PBS, then one can determine the electron temperature from the pressure balance condition.

Burlaga, L. F.↗