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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

Recalls of tattoo and permanent makeup inks in the United States and a follow-up microbiological survey of inks with a previous recall history

In this study, we collected voluntary recall records of tattoo and permanent makeup ink from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) Enforcement Report Database. The recall records contain information, such as recall date, manufacturer, ink color, reason for recall, and the microorganisms detected from the ink samples. Between 2003 and 2021, a total of 15 voluntary tattoo ink recalls occurred in the U.S. market, involving over 200 tattoo inks marketed by 13 manufacturers and one distributor. Fourteen recalls were due to microbial contamination, and one recall was due to allergic reaction. As follow-up, a microbiological survey of 28 tattoo inks of new batches from seven manufacturers having products that were previously recalled was conducted. Aerobic plate count (APC) and enrichment culture methods based on the FDA’s Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) were used to detect microbial contamination. The results revealed that six out of 28 tattoo inks were contaminated with bacteria and were produced by two manufacturers. The level of microbial contamination was less than 250 CFU/g in three of the tattoo inks and between 1 × 10 3 and 1 × 10 5 CFU/g in the other three inks. Eleven bacterial isolates were identified, including spore-forming Bacillus -related species and potentially pathogenic species. Overall, this study shows that some tattoo ink products produced by manufacturers with a recall history continue to be contaminated with microorganisms. This highlights the need for ongoing monitoring and quality control of such products.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Tailoring electrode microstructure via ink content to enable improved rated power performance for platinum cobalt/high surface area carbon based polymer electrolyte fuel cells

Improvements in polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) electrode performance have primarily focused on catalyst and ionomer developments, marginalizing the importance of catalyst ink formulation. In this study, the effect of ink formulation is examined across a series of cathodes comprised of PtCo supported on high surface area carbon (PtCo/ HSC ) and Nafion ionomer using an array of in situ electrochemical and ex situ characterization techniques. In contrast to prior work on Pt/Vu systems, ink water content had little effect on the electrochemically determined ionomer coverage for the PtCo/HSC electrocatalyst examined here. Characterization using nano-scale resolution X-ray computed tomography (nano-CT) demonstrated that water-rich ink formulations lead to a reduction in aggregate size (ionomer + PtCo/HSC), improving local O 2 transport. This understanding, combined with the use of a commercially-available electrocatalyst was used to produced state-of-the-art membrane electrode assemblies with Pt loadings of 0.03/0.08 mg Pt /cm 2 on the anode and cathode respectively, having; i) > 1 A/mg Pt (0.9 V iR-free , 150 kPa, 80 °C, 100% RH, H 2 /O 2 ), ii) 320 mA/cm 2 at 0.8 V, 150 kPa, 80 ° C, 100% RH, H 2 /Air), and iii) > 1 W/cm 2 elec at rated power (0.67 V, 250 kPa, 94 °C, 65% RH, H 2 /Air) or < 0.11 g Pt /kW rated .

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Utilizing ink composition to tune bulk-electrode gas transport, performance, and operational robustness for a Fe-N-C catalyst in polymer electrolyte fuel cell

With lower site density and turnover frequency, platinum group metal (PGM)-free catalysts based electrodes are often greater than 50 mu m thick in order to increase performance across the fuel cell operating range. Consequently, PGM-free electrodes have an additional bulk electrode transport resistance beyond the local or aggregate level transport in thin platinum-based electrodes. In parallel to the development of more active and durable PGM-free catalysts, advancements in understanding the interplay between PGM-free electrode fabrication, bulk-electrode transport, proton conductivity and performance are needed. Here, the relationship between ionic and gas phase transport through the electrode thickness is modified by adjusting electrocatalyst and ionomer flocculation/interaction at the ink level. The influence of the ink composition (water/n-propanol content) is examined via various in-situ electrochemical and ex-situ characterization techniques and the resulting electrode structure/performance relationship contrasted with electrode performance robustness across a range of relative humidity (RH). For the electrocatalyst examined here, a water-rich (82 wt% H2O) ink formulation was favorable for operation at high RH due to improved molecular diffusion through larger electrode pores. In contrast, the improved interactions between ionomer and electrocatalyst enabled a more robust electrode and higher performance during low RH operation for the 50 wt% H2O content ink.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2024

On the cogent formulation of an elastomeric silicone ink material for direct ink write ( DIW ) 3D printing

Abstract Adhesives and sealants show fine rheology with good physical and mechanical properties as viscous pastes, a possible starting point for developing direct ink writing (DIW) 3D printing ink. However, many commercial adhesives and sealants take days or weeks to cure fully. DIW 3D‐printed parts made directly from these sealants are not designed for a scalable manufacturing process and high‐volume production. Moreover, most of these adhesives and sealants have volume shrinkage during cure. A systematic understanding of formulation methods and design principles for an elastomeric silicone DIW ink can overcome these issues. This study presents the cogent formulation development of a 3D printable thermoset elastomer silicone that gels and cures isotropically in minutes, reducing cycle time for rapid ink development with no shrinkage during cure. More specifically, we outline the principles of raw material selection of a formulation to achieve excellent rheology, printability, synchronized working, and gel time fitting requirements closer to scalable manufacturing. The reaction kinetics and their corresponding 3D‐printed structural properties are also described. Interest in future work is toward a rational DIW 3D printing ink material development protocol and use of machine learning (ML). Highlights Formulation method flexibility and design principle of DIW ink. Raw material selection principle to achieve optimal rheology for DIW printing. Ink gel kinetics for large‐scale DIW manufacturing. Hydrosilylation conversion over time at different ambient temperatures. Structural properties of DIW 3D printed parts.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

The effect of ink ball milling time on interparticle interactions and ink microstructure and their influence on crack formation in rod-coated catalyst layers

This work investigates the influence of ballmilling (sometimes also referred to as jar roller milling) time on cathode catalyst layer (CL) inks and electrode properties using formulations and coating methods relevant for industrial manufacturing. Four CL inks with the same composition were milled for 24, 48, 72, or 96 h. Rheological investigation of these inks showed a reduction of elastic moduli and steady-shear viscosity with continuous ink milling, which is correlated to a decrease in particle-particle interactions as well as formation of smaller agglomerates. Optical microscopy (OM) analysis of the fabricated electrodes revealed a trend in surface crack formation; formulations milled for 24 h contained the lowest average surface crack area percentages of 0.370% at heavy-duty loadings of ~0.300 mg Pt cm -2 , compared to 2.418% for the ink milled for 96 h. Further characterization of the CL through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging showed a decrease in the mean agglomerate and pore size with milling time. Furthermore, these smaller electrode features were consistent with reduced fracture resistance and, hence, development of larger stresses during drying. Our results highlight the need to consider ink processing as an important component in defect-free CL manufacturing.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2023

Analytical Study and Experimental Verification of Shear-Thinning Ink Flow in Direct Ink Writing Process

Abstract Direct ink writing (DIW) process is a facile additive manufacturing technology to fabricate three-dimensional (3D) objects with various materials. Its versatility has attracted considerable interest in academia and industry in recent years. As such, upsurging endeavors are invested in advancing the ink flow behaviors in order to optimize the process resolution and the printing quality. However, so far, the physical phenomena during the DIW process are not revealed in detail, leaving a research gap between the physical experiments and its underlying theories. Here, we present a comprehensive analytical study of non-Newtonian ink flow behavior during the DIW process. Different syringe-nozzle geometries are modeled for the comparative case studies. By using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation method, we reveal the shear-thinning property during the ink extrusion process. Besides, we study the viscosity, shear stress, and velocity fields, and analyze the advantages and drawbacks of each syringe-nozzle model. On the basis of these investigations and analyses, we propose an improved syringe-nozzle geometry for stable extrusion and high printing quality. A set of DIW printing experiments and rheological characterizations are carried out to verify the simulation studies. The results developed in this work offer an in-depth understanding of the ink flow behavior in the DIW process, providing valuable guidelines for optimizing the physical DIW configuration toward high-resolution printing and, consequently, improving the performance of DIW-printed objects.

Engineering↗
DOE OSTI2022

Coaxial Ceramic Direct Ink Writing on Heterogenous and Rough Surfaces: Investigation of Core–Shell Interactions

In this work, coaxial conductor–ceramic direct ink writing enables the printing of sensitive or encapsulated materials onto heterogeneous and rough substrates. While encasing the core fluid within a stiff ceramic shell, continuity may be maintained, even while printing onto conventionally challenging substrates. Here, we report the development of a coaxial ceramic direct ink writing suite and explore coflow interrelationships based on microfluidic principles. A coaxial nozzle is designed to facilitate the coextrusion of an alumina shell, whereas indium–tin-oxide inks constitute the core. In this manner, a core–shell ceramic element may be printed onto rough substrates for future high-temperature applications. Colloidal inks are engineered to provide the required rheological and sintering performance. Moreover, flow simulations in conjunction with microfluidic coflow principles are used to explore the coaxial printing processing space, thus controlling the core–shell architectures. Physical modeling is further used to analyze core deformations and eccentricity. As a result, simulations are validated experimentally, and the analyses are used to deposit coaxial ceramic features onto heterogeneous, high-temperature ceramic substrates.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Products having sheets of 2D materials and related inks for direct ink writing

In one inventive concept, an ink includes a precursor of a graphene analogue, a thickener, and a solvent. In another inventive concept, an ink includes a graphene analogue, a thickener, and a solvent. In yet another inventive concept, an aerogel includes a three-dimensional printed structure having printed features comprised of two dimensional sheets of a graphene analogue.

Chandrasekaran, Swetha↗
DOE OSTI2024

Base-catalyzed sol-gel inks for direct ink writing of high resolution hierarchically porous carbon aerogels

According to one aspect of an inventive concept, an ink includes a base catalyst, a sol gel precursor composition, and a block copolymer. According to another aspect of an inventive concept, an aerogel includes a three-dimensional printed structure having printed ligaments geometrically arranged, where an average diameter of the printed ligaments is in a range of greater than 0 microns and less than 50 microns. In addition, an average distance between a center of a first of the printed ligaments and a center of a second of the printed ligaments is at least equal to the average diameter of the printed ligaments, where the first and the second of the printed ligaments are adjacent. Each printed ligament includes of a plurality of random pores, where an average diameter of the random pores is less than 50 nanometers.

Zhu, Cheng↗
DOE OSTI2024

Detection of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria from commercial tattoo and permanent makeup inks

ABSTRACT Tattooing and use of permanent makeup (PMU) have dramatically increased over the last decade, with a concomitant increase in ink-related infections. Studies have shown evidence that commercial tattoo and PMU inks are frequently contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms. Considering that tattoo inks are placed into the dermal layer of the skin where anaerobic bacteria can thrive and cause infections in low-oxygen environments, the prevalence of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria should be assessed in tattoo and PMU inks. In this study, we tested 75 tattoo and PMU inks using the analytical methods described in the FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual Chapter 23 for the detection of both aerobic and anaerobic bacterial contamination, followed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing for microbial identification. Of 75 ink samples, we found 26 contaminated samples with 34 bacterial isolates taxonomically classified into 14 genera and 22 species. Among the 34 bacterial isolates, 19 were identified as possibly pathogenic bacterial strains. Two species, namelyCutibacterium acnes(four strains) andStaphylococcus epidermidis(two strains) were isolated under anaerobic conditions. Two possibly pathogenic bacterial strains,Staphylococcus saprophyticusandC. acnes, were isolated together from the same ink samples (n= 2), indicating that tattoo and PMU inks can contain both aerobic (S. saprophyticus) and anaerobic bacteria (C. acnes). No significant association was found between sterility claims on the ink label and the absence of bacterial contamination. The results indicate that tattoo and PMU inks can also contain anaerobic bacteria. IMPORTANCE The rising popularity of tattooing and permanent makeup (PMU) has led to increased reports of ink-related infections. This study is the first to investigate the presence of both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in commercial tattoo and PMU inks under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Our findings reveal that unopened and sealed tattoo inks can harbor anaerobic bacteria, known to thrive in low-oxygen environments, such as the dermal layer of the skin, alongside aerobic bacteria. This suggests that contaminated tattoo inks could be a source of infection from both types of bacteria. The results emphasize the importance of monitoring these products for both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, including possibly pathogenic microorganisms.

Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology↗
DOE OSTI2020

Effect of Dispersion Medium Composition and Ionomer Concentration on the Microstructure and Rheology of Fe–N–C Platinum Group Metal-free Catalyst Inks for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

In this paper, we present an investigation of the microstructure and rheological behavior of catalyst inks consisting of Fe–N–C platinum group metal-free catalysts and a perfluorosulfonic acid ionomer in a dispersion medium (DM) of water and 1-propanol ( n PA). The effects of the ionomer-to-catalyst (I/C) ratio and weight percentage of water (H 2 O %) in the DM on the ink microstructure were studied. Steady-shear and dynamic-oscillatory-shear rheology, in combination with synchrotron X-ray scattering, was utilized to understand interparticle interactions and the level of agglomeration of the inks. In the absence of the ionomer, the inks were significantly agglomerated, approaching a gel-like microstructure for catalyst concentrations as low as 2 wt %. The effect of H 2 O % in the DM on particle agglomeration was found to vary with particle concentration. In concentrated inks (≥2 wt % catalyst), increasing H 2 O % was found to increase agglomeration because of the hydrophobic nature of the catalysts. In dilute inks (<1 wt % catalyst), the trend was reversed with increasing H 2 O %, suggesting that electrostatic interactions are dominating the behavior. In inks with 5 wt % catalyst, the addition of an ionomer was found to significantly stabilize the catalyst against agglomeration. Maximum stability was observed at 0.35 I/C for all DM H 2 O % studied. At high ionomer concentrations (I/C > 0.35), interesting differences were observed between n PA-rich inks (H 2 O % ≤ 50%) and H 2 O-rich (82% H 2 O) inks. The n PA-rich inks remained predominantly stable—ink viscosity only weakly increased with I/C and the Newtonian behavior was maintained for I/C up to 0.9. In contrast, the H 2 O-rich inks exhibited a significant increase in viscoelasticity with increasing I/C, suggesting flocculation of the catalyst by the ionomer. These differences suggest that the nature of the interactions between the ionomer and catalyst is highly dependent on the H 2 O % in the DM.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Importance of the Heat Treatment Scheme on Self-Reducing Reactive Silver Inks

Self-reducing reactive silver inks can print high-quality silver at reasonable temperatures. While numerous studies have explored the impact of processing temperature on electrical properties, the role of the heat treatment scheme has not yet been studied. Common heat treatment schemes include printing and drying inks at room temperature before heat treatment, performing heat treatments while the inks are still wet, and directly printing the inks onto heated substrates. Each scheme generates distinct heat transfer and mass transport kinetics that can affect the silver morphology and electrical properties. However, to date, the impact of different schemes has not been systematically investigated. To address this knowledge gap, this work investigates how different heat treatment schemes impact metal formation, sintering, and the resultant electrical properties of printed self-reducing reactive silver inks. Heat treatment on room-temperature dried inks and wet inks, with top-down (oven) and bottom-up (hot plate) heating sources, were compared. Inks dried at room temperature resulted in extremely porous films that required high heat treatment temperatures (>100 °C) for silver densification. However, these dried films could only densify locally, and their high initial porosities resulted in voids and high resistances (~0.6 Ω mm –1 ) even after heat treatments above 300 °C. Inks that were wet during heat treatment showed moderate improvements in electrical properties with resistances on the order of 0.4 Ω mm –1 at heat treatments of 250 °C. Printing reactive inks directly onto heated substrates yielded the best low-temperature results, with 0.46 Ω mm –1 (5.5 × bulk silver) line resistances achieved at only 90 °C. Overall, this work’s experimental results provide detailed insights into why printing onto a heated substrate results in superior electrical performance compared to more common heat treatment schemes. Additionally, controlling where the precipitation reaction occurs is critical to controlling the film morphology and properties. As a result, this work shows that even an ammonia-based silver reactive ink can achieve good, low-temperature electrical properties with the proper heat treatment scheme.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Influence of Ink Formulation and Drying Conditions on Ionomer Distribution in High-Performance Roll-to-Roll-Coated Gas-Diffusion Electrodes

To enable mass production of fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) catalyst layers production will require continuous roll-to-roll (R2R) coating processes. Gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) are advantageous for mass production because the catalyst layer can be directely coated on the microporous layer of the gas diffusion media without the need for a decal-transfer process. It is known that the water-to-alcohol ratio in the catalyst ink influences the interactions of the ionomer with the catalyst leading to different distributions of ionomer in spray-coated catalyst layers. It is also known that during drying of colloidal mixtures, like fuel cell inks, factors such as drying rate, particle size, and agglomeration influence how the materials distribute themselves throughout the thickness of the dired film. Thus far there have only been limited studies to understand how process conditions such as ink formulation and drying temperature influence the distribution of ionomer and catalyst coated using scalable methods. This understanding is especially important for GDEs since it is known that having a sufficient amount of ionomer at the catalyst layer-membrane interface is critical for high performance. In this study we have focused on determining how the ratio of water to 1-propanol in the catalyst ink ink and drying temperature influence the distribution of ionomer throughout the thickness of the catalyst layer. Using a combination of Kelvin probe and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy we show that an ionomer-rich surface is promoted by a higher drying rate and a water-rich catalyst ink. In contrast, a 1-propanol catalyst ink leads to a lower concentration of ionomer on the top surface. Using x-ray computed tomography, we are able to characterize the ionomer distribution throughout the thickness of the layer. We find that, in addition to promoting an ionomer-rich top surface, water-rich inks lead to a more homogenous distribution of ionomer, whereas a 1-propanol-rich ink leads to a more irregular distribution. It is found that MEA performance is improved by selecting conditions and ink formulations that promote ionomer enrichment at the top surface to facilitate a good interface with the membrane. MEAs prepared with a 75 wt% water catalyst ink with a 0.9 I/C have equivalent performance to spray-coated GDEs. Critically, these R2R-coated GDEs do not need an additional ionomer overlayer like the spray-coated GDEs do, reducing the number of processing steps in a manufacturing setting. This work shows that with the appropriate selection of materials, ink formulation, and processing conditions gas-diffusion electrodes are a viable pathway for fuel cell manufacturing.

ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION↗
DOE OSTI2024

The Influence of Microstructure on TCR for Inkjet-Printed Resistive Temperature Detectors Fabricated Using AgNO 3 /Ethylene-Glycol-Based Inks

This study investigated the influence of microstructure on the performance of Ag inkjet-printed, resistive temperature detectors (RTDs) fabricated using particle-free inks based on a silver nitrate (AgNO 3 ) precursor and ethylene glycol as the ink solvent. Specifically, the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) and sensitivity for sensors printed using inks that use monoethylene glycol (mono-EG), diethylene glycol (di-EG), and triethylene glycol (tri-EG) and subjected to a low-pressure argon (Ar) plasma after printing were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed previous findings that microstructure is strongly influenced by the ink solvent, with mono-EG inks producing dense structures, while di- and tri-EG inks produce porous structures, with tri-EG inks yielding the most porous structures. RTD testing revealed that sensors printed using mono-EG ink exhibited the highest TCR (1.7 × 10 -3 /°C), followed by di-EG ink (8.2 × 10 -4 /°C) and tri-EG ink (7.2 × 10 -4 /°C). These findings indicate that porosity exhibits a strong negative influence on TCR. Sensitivity was not strongly influenced by microstructure but rather by the resistance of RTD. The highest sensitivity (0.84 Ω/°C) was observed for an RTD printed using mono-EG ink but not under plasma exposure conditions that yield the highest TCR.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Balancing Functionality and Printability: High-Loading Polymer Resins for Direct Ink Writing

Although direct ink writing (DIW) allows the rapid fabrication of unique 3D printed objects, the resins—or “inks”—available for this technique are in short supply and often offer little functionality, leading to the development of new, custom inks. However, when creating new inks, the ability of the ink to lead to a successful print, or the “printability,” must be considered. Thus, this work examined the effect of filler composition/concentration, printing parameters, and lattice structure on the printability of new polysiloxane inks incorporating high concentrations (50–70 wt%) of metallic and ceramic fillers as well as emulsions. Results suggest that strut diameter and spacing ratio have the most influence on the printability of DIW materials and that the printability of silica- and metal-filled inks is more predictable than ceramic-filled inks. Additionally, higher filler loadings and SC geometries led to stiffer printed parts than lower loadings and FCT geometries, and metal-filled inks were more thermally stable than ceramic-filled inks. The findings in this work provide important insights into the tradeoffs associated with the development of unique and/or multifunctional DIW inks, printability, and the final material’s performance.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Aging gracefully? Investigating iridium oxide ink's impact on microstructure, catalyst/ionomer interface, and PEMWE performance

Here, in this study, we conducted a thorough investigation of the impact of aging iridium oxide (IrO 2 ) perfluorosulfonic acid ionomer ink for up to 14 days on the properties of the ink and the resulting catalyst layers. We examined ink properties, such as zeta potential, dynamic light scattering (DLS), density, surface tension, and rheology, as functions of ink aging time. To evaluate the microstructure and catalyst/ionomer interface, we employed transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray scattering, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. Furthermore, we assessed the effect of ink aging on the performance of proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs). Our findings reveal that most ink properties remain stable for 14 days. The variations in PEMWE cell performance are minimal, and no clear trend is observed in relation to ink aging time. This study demonstrates that the effects of aging the inks for 14 days on ink properties, catalyst layer structure, catalyst/ionomer interface, and PEMWE performance are negligible, indicating a substantial time window after ink preparation without any significant changes in its properties. These insights provide crucial guidance for the commercial production and coating processes of ink, which is necessary for scaling up PEM technologies to meet future demand.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗