Morphology of Copper Nanofoams for Radiation Hydrodynamics and Fusion Applications Investigated by 3D Ptychotomography.

The performance of metal and polymer foams used in inertial confinement fusion (ICF), inertial fusion energy (IFE), and high-energy-density (HED) experiments is currently limited by our understanding of their nanostructure and its variation in bulk material. We utilized an X-ray-free electron laser (XFEL) together with lensless X-ray imaging techniques to probe the 3D morphology of copper foams at nanoscale resolution (28 nm). The observed morphology of the thin shells is more varied than expected from previous characterizations, with a large number of them distorted, merged, or open, and a targeted mass density 14% less than calculated.

The impact of low-mode symmetry on inertial fusion energy output in the burning plasma state.

Indirect Drive Inertial Confinement Fusion Experiments on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) have achieved a burning plasma state with neutron yields exceeding 170 kJ, roughly 3 times the prior record and a necessary stage for igniting plasmas. The results are achieved despite multiple sources of degradations that lead to high variability in performance. Results shown here, for the first time, include an empirical correction factor for mode-2 asymmetry in the burning plasma regime in addition to previously determined corrections for radiative mix and mode-1.

Observations and properties of the first laboratory fusion experiment to exceed a target gain of unity.

An indirect-drive inertial fusion experiment on the National Ignition Facility was driven using 2.05 MJ of laser light at a wavelength of 351 nm and produced 3.1±0.

Design of the first fusion experiment to achieve target energy gain G>1.

In this work we present the design of the first controlled fusion laboratory experiment to reach target gain G>1 N221204 (5 December 2022) [Phys. Rev. Lett.

Safety of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination in paediatric patients with a PEG-asparaginase allergy.

Background: Children treated for a malignancy are at risk to develop serious illness from a COVID-19 infection. Pegylated asparaginase (PEG-asparaginase) is used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Allergy to this drug is common and both asparaginase and polyethylene glycol (PEG) are identified as possible antigens.

Design of an inertial fusion experiment exceeding the Lawson criterion for ignition.

We present the design of the first igniting fusion plasma in the laboratory by Lawson's criterion that produced 1.37 MJ of fusion energy, Hybrid-E experiment N210808 (August 8, 2021) [Phys. Rev.

Experimental achievement and signatures of ignition at the National Ignition Facility.

An inertial fusion implosion on the National Ignition Facility, conducted on August 8, 2021 (N210808), recently produced more than a megajoule of fusion yield and passed Lawson's criterion for ignition [Phys. Rev. Lett.

Burning plasma achieved in inertial fusion.

Obtaining a burning plasma is a critical step towards self-sustaining fusion energy. A burning plasma is one in which the fusion reactions themselves are the primary source of heating in the plasma, which is necessary to sustain and propagate the burn, enabling high energy gain. After decades of fusion research, here we achieve a burning-plasma state in the laboratory.

Unraveling the Ion Adsorption Kinetics in Microporous Carbon Electrodes: A Multiscale Quantum-Continuum Simulation and Experimental Approach.

Understanding sorption in porous carbon electrodes is crucial to many environmental and energy technologies, such as capacitive deionization (CDI), supercapacitor energy storage, and activated carbon filters. In each of these examples, a practical model that can describe ion electrosorption kinetics is highly desirable for accelerating material design. Here, we proposed a multiscale model to study the ion electrosorption kinetics in porous carbon electrodes by combining quantum mechanical simulations with continuum approaches.

Evidence of Three-Dimensional Asymmetries Seeded by High-Density Carbon-Ablator Nonuniformity in Experiments at the National Ignition Facility.

Inertial confinement fusion implosions must achieve high in-flight shell velocity, sufficient energy coupling between the hot spot and imploding shell, and high areal density (ρR=∫ρdr) at stagnation. Asymmetries in ρR degrade the coupling of shell kinetic energy to the hot spot and reduce the confinement of that energy. We present the first evidence that nonuniformity in the ablator shell thickness (∼0.

Record Energetics for an Inertial Fusion Implosion at NIF.

Inertial confinement fusion seeks to create burning plasma conditions in a spherical capsule implosion, which requires efficiently absorbing the driver energy in the capsule, transferring that energy into kinetic energy of the imploding DT fuel and then into internal energy of the fuel at stagnation. We report new implosions conducted on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) with several improvements on recent work [Phys. Rev.

Safety and effectiveness of omalizumab for the treatment of chronic urticaria in pediatric patients.

Background: Evidence on safety and effectiveness of omalizumab for treatment of chronic urticaria in pediatric patients is scarce and limited to case reports. In particular, drug survival of omalizumab has not yet been investigated, which is a key element in the evaluation of its clinical performance. The aim of this study was to investigate safety, effectiveness, and drug survival rates of omalizumab in a daily practice cohort of pediatric patients with chronic urticaria (CU).

Selectivity of nitrate and chloride ions in microporous carbons: the role of anisotropic hydration and applied potentials.

Understanding ion transport in porous carbons is critical for a wide range of technologies, including supercapacitors and capacitive deionization for water desalination, yet many details remain poorly understood. For instance, an atomistic understanding of how ion selectivity is influenced by the molecular shape of ions, morphology of the micropores and applied voltages is largely lacking. In this work, we combined molecular dynamics simulations with enhanced sampling methods to elucidate the mechanism of nitrate and chloride selectivity in subnanometer graphene slit-pores.

Cation Selectivity in Capacitive Deionization: Elucidating the Role of Pore Size, Electrode Potential, and Ion Dehydration.

Capacitive deionization (CDI) is a promising water desalination technology that is applicable to the treatment of low-salinity brackish waters and the selective removal of ionic contaminants. In this work, we show that by making a small change in the synthetic procedure of hierarchical carbon aerogel monolith (HCAM) electrodes, we can adjust the pore-size distribution and tailor the selectivity, effectively switching between selective adsorption of calcium or sodium ions. Ion selectivity was measured for a mixture of 5 mM NaCl and 2.

Process design tools and techno-economic analysis for capacitive deionization.

Capacitive deionization (CDI) devices use cyclical electrosorption on porous electrode surfaces to achieve water desalination. Process modeling and design of CDI systems requires accurate treatment of the coupling among input electrical forcing, input flow rates, and system responses including salt removal dynamics, water recovery, energy storage, and dissipation. Techno-economic analyses of CDI further require a method to calculate and compare between a produced commodity (e.

Specific ion effects at graphitic interfaces.

Improved understanding of aqueous solutions at graphitic interfaces is critical for energy storage and water desalination. However, many mechanistic details remain unclear, including how interfacial structure and response are dictated by intrinsic properties of solvated ions under applied voltage. In this work, we combine hybrid first-principles/continuum simulations with electrochemical measurements to investigate adsorption of several alkali-metal cations at the interface with graphene and within graphene slit-pores.

Using Ultramicroporous Carbon for the Selective Removal of Nitrate with Capacitive Deionization.

The contamination of water resources with nitrate is a growing and significant problem. Here we report the use of ultramicroporous carbon as a capacitive deionization (CDI) electrode for selectively removing nitrate from an anion mixture. Through moderate activation, we achieve a micropore-size distribution consisting almost exclusively of narrow (<1 nm) pores that are well suited for adsorbing the planar, weakly hydrated nitrate molecule.

Ion selectivity in capacitive deionization with functionalized electrode: Theory and experimental validation.

Capacitive deionization (CDI) is a promising technique for salt removal and may have potential for highly selective removal of ion species. In this work, we take advantage of functional groups usually used with ionic exchange resins and apply these to CDI. To this end, we functionalize activated carbon with a quaternary amines surfactant and use this surface to selectively and passively (no applied field) trap nitrate ions.

High water recovery and improved thermodynamic efficiency for capacitive deionization using variable flowrate operation.

Water recovery is a measure of the amount of treated water produced relative to the total amount of water processed through the system, and is an important performance metric for any desalination method. Conventional operating methods for desalination using capacitive deionization (CDI) have so far limited water recovery to be about 50%. To improve water recovery for CDI, we here introduce a new operating scheme based on a variable (in time) flow rate wherein a low flow rate during discharge is used to produce a brine volume which is significantly less than the volume of diluent produced.

Performance metrics for the objective assessment of capacitive deionization systems.

In the growing field of capacitive deionization (CDI), a number of performance metrics have emerged to describe the desalination process. Unfortunately, the separation conditions under which these metrics are measured are often not specified, resulting in optimal performance at minimal removal. Here we outline a system of performance metrics and reporting conditions that resolves this issue.

Solvation Properties of Silver and Copper Ions in a Room Temperature Ionic Liquid: A First-Principles Study.

Understanding the behavior of metal ions in room temperature ionic liquids (ILs) is essential for predicting and optimizing performance for technologies like metal electrodeposition; however, many mechanistic details remain enigmatic, including the solvation properties of the ions in ILs and how they are governed by the intrinsic interaction between the ions and the liquid species. Here, we utilize first-principles molecular dynamics simulations to unravel and compare the key structural properties of Ag and Cu ions in a common room temperature IL, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate. We find that, when compared to Cu, the larger Ag shows a more disordered and flexible solvation structure with a more frequent exchange of the IL species between its solvation shells.