Libor Kovarik | Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Characterization and Development of a Cu/ZrO2/SiO2 Catalyst for the Conversion of Bio-Derived Ethanol to Linear Butenes

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Robert Dagle

Project type

Contracted Time

The overall objective of this study is to further investigate our recent catalyst innovation enabling the selective, single-step conversion of bio-derived ethanol to 1- and 2-butene (linear butenes)…

Electron microscopy imaging and analyses of signs of iron toxicity found in the macrophages of the cardiac tissue

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Alice Dohnalkova

Sudden blockage of coronary artery is a common cause of heart attacks (myocardial infarction, MI). The team of Prof. Rohan Dharmakumar at the Indiana University School of Medicine conduct a NIH…

Characterization and development of a Ni-based catalysts for the conversion of methane into H2 and solid carbon

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Robert Dagle

The overall objective of this study is to further develop PNNL’s Regenerable Catalytic Pyrolysis (ReCaP) process to generate scaled CO2-free hydrogen (H2) from methane. The solid carbon is…

Characterization and Development of a Ag/ZrO2/SiO2 Catalyst for the Conversion of Bio-Derived Ethanol to Linear Butenes

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Robert Dagle

The overall objective of this study is to further investigate our recent catalyst innovation enabling the selective, single-step conversion of bio-derived ethanol to 1- and 2-butene (linear butenes)…

Investigation of Field-Assisted Surface Chemistry by Atom Probe Tomography

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Sten Lambeets

Addressing the negative impact of CO2 on the global environment requires a multifaceted mitigation strategy which includes CO2 conversion to higher value compounds, satisfying both economic and…

An Experimental and Modeling Investigation of Solidification and Microstructural Evolution in Magnesium Alloys using in situ Techniques

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Aashish Rohatgi

The goal of this proposal is to understand the microstructural evolution during non-equilibrium, rapid solidification of a molten magnesium-aluminum-zinc (AZ91) alloy, and during its subsequent heat…

Atmospheric Soil Organic Particles

Lead Institution

Purdue University

Principal Investigator

Alexander Laskin

Recent discovery of atmospheric soil organic particles (ASOP), emitted through previously unrecognized atmosphere-land-surface interactions, suggests that ASOP may have a widespread impact over a…

Betavoltaics from COTS: Power for Years

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Lance Hubbard

Overwhelmingly, betavoltaics’ (BV) long-lasting power opens a broad range of applications which are not currently available. The birth of very low power electronics has opened up a market for the…

Atomic Level Investigation of the Phase Stability of Transition Metal Surfaces Under Reactive Environment

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Libor Kovarik

Atomic level understanding of transition metal surfaces (in particular the surfaces of metal nano-particles) is critical for developing a structure-property relationship in a range of scientific…

Combined Surface Characterization and Computation Study of a LaxZryOz Catalyst for the Catalytic Upgrading of Biomass-derived Compounds into Biofuels and Renewable Chemicals

Lead Institution

Archer Daniels Midland Company

Principal Investigator

Karl Albrecht

Catalytic upgrading of biomass is a challenging task in part because of the presence of water. Many conventional catalysts were developed for petroleum-based feedstocks. Often these catalysts are…

Probing Phase States of Individual Sub-micron Particles at Various Relative Humidity and Temperature

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Libor Kovarik

The viscosity of organic aerosols is a pivotal property to predict their health and environmental impact. Viscosity influences particle growth rate, diffusivity, chemical reactivity, and impacts the…

Fundamental Studies of Ice Nucleation Using Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM)

Lead Institution

Purdue University

Principal Investigator

Alexander Laskin

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

The proposed research is to demonstrate applicability of a novel experimental platform for systematic studies of ice nucleation efficiency of atmospheric particles with determination of…

Ice Nucleation Propensity of Biological Particles

Lead Institution

Xiamen University

Principal Investigator

Bingbing Wang

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

The proposed study will investigate the ice nucleation propensity of atmospheric biological particles using a novel experimental platform developed in EMSL by our group. We will determine…

Probing Phase States of Individual Sub-micron Particles at Various Relative Humidity and Temperature

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Libor Kovarik

The viscosity of organic aerosols is a pivotal property to predict their health and environmental impact. Viscosity influences particle growth rate, diffusivity, chemical reactivity, and impacts the…

Biomineralization and Biosequestration Mechanisms at Life's Upper Temperatures: A Reappraisal using Novel CryoEM Techniques

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Sherry Cady

Though microbes can indirectly and metabolically transform, sequester, and transport (i) ions, (ii) organic and inorganic complexes, and (iii) precipitates via a wide range of mechanisms,…

An Experimental and Modeling Investigation of Solidification and Microstructural Evolution in Magnesium Alloys using in situ Techniques

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Aashish Rohatgi

The goal of this proposal is to understand the microstructural evolution during non-equilibrium, rapid solidification of a molten magnesium-aluminum-zinc (AZ91) alloy, and during its subsequent heat…

Novel Analyses of Hanford Plutonium Particles

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Dallas Reilly

Understanding the chemical speciation of plutonium particles currently in the ground at the Hanford site has major implications for nuclear forensics (looking back in time at which processes produced…

Atomic and Nanoscale Investigation of Ice Nucleation on Atmospheric Aerosols

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Lyle Gordon

Clouds control Earth's weather and climate. They cool the atmosphere by reflecting infrared solar radiation and warm the planet's surface by trapping infrared radiation. The nucleation of…

Thermally Stability of Nanostructures - An Experimental and Modeling Investigation

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Aashish Rohatgi

The goal of this proposal is to develop nanostructured alloys that can be fabricated in bulk form (>1 cm3) without compromising their nanostructure, either during the fabrication process or during…

Understanding the Complexity of Biogenic Mineral Formation in Microbial Extracellular Polymeric Substances: a 3-d Nano-scale Perspective

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Alice Dohnalkova

Microbial role in sequestration of various metal has been well studied, including PNNL Microbiology group and numerous EMSL user projects. However, the current view of microbial-mineral interactions…

Improving magnetoelectric coupling in novel single-phase multiferroic thin films of the MTiO3
(M = Fe, Mn, Ni, …) family

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Tamas Varga

Multiferroics exhibit simultaneous electric and magnetic order. They are receiving increasing attention due to the fact that they show promise for the design of new multifunctional devices where…

Understanding nanoscale composition and structure of U-10Mo alloys.

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Arun Devaraj

PNNL as a part of the Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) Convert program is working on converting the high enriched uranium (HEU) fuel currently used in civilian research and test reactors to…

Microstructural Evolution under Shear Deformation

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Arun Devaraj

Solid phase processing (SPP) of alloys using shear-deformation results in nanoscale metastable phases and enhanced mechanical properties. High-speed mass and energy transfer during such process makes…

Site specific atomic resolution probing of structure-property relationship under dynamic and/or operando conditions using in-situ and ex-situ chemical imaging based on multi-instrument approach

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Chongmin Wang

The goal of this proposal is to develop chemical imaging capabilities that drive the atomic-level imaging and spectroscopic analysis of materials related to energy and environmental issues under in…

An Experimental and Modeling Investigation of Solidification and Microstructural Evolution in Magnesium Alloys using in situ Techniques

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Aashish Rohatgi

The goal of this proposal is to understand the microstructural evolution during non-equilibrium, rapid solidification of a molten magnesium-aluminum-zinc (AZ91) alloy, and during its subsequent heat…

Carbon Sequestration Beneath the Active Zone of the Rhizosphere: Insights from Extremophile Ecosystems

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Sherry Cady

To better understand the ultimate fate of carbon sequestered in the subsurface, we are studying carbon sequestration mechanisms in mineralizing extremophile environments. Such ecosystems provide an…

Correlated Multimodal in situ Gas-Metal Alloy Surface Reaction Studies

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Arun Devaraj

This project will conduct a comprehensive demonstration of PNNL capabilities for multimodal in situ chemical imaging of structural, compositional and chemical state changes on metallic alloy surfaces…

Measuring Lattice Expansion in Catalytic Nanoparticles with Atomic Resolution by
Coherent Nanodiffraction

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Bernd Kabius

Nanoparticles with a diameter of a few nanometer show fundamentally different catalytic behavior than particles with a few tens of nanometer [1,2,3]. Their activity is much higher and they are more…

Atomic and Nanoscale Investigation of Ice Nucleation on Atmospheric Aerosols

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Lyle Gordon

Clouds control Earth's weather and climate. They cool the atmosphere by reflecting infrared solar radiation and warm the planet's surface by trapping infrared radiation. The nucleation of…

Atmospheric Soil Organic Particles

Lead Institution

Purdue University

Principal Investigator

Alexander Laskin

Recent discovery of atmospheric soil organic particles (ASOP), emitted through previously unrecognized atmosphere-land-surface interactions, suggests that ASOP may have a widespread impact over a…

Betavoltaics from COTS: Power for Years

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Lance Hubbard

Overwhelmingly, betavoltaics’ (BV) long-lasting power opens a broad range of applications which are not currently available. The birth of very low power electronics has opened up a market for the…

Catalyst and Material Development for Warm Cleanup of Biomass or Coal-Derived Syngas: Tar, Methane, Inorganic Contaminant Species, and CO2 Removal

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Robert Dagle

Project type

Exploratory Research

Syngas from biomass or coal has many applications in the area of catalytic fuels and chemicals synthesis, as well as hydrogen production for petroleum refineries, ammonia synthesis and for fuel cell…

Rhizosphere Underground:
Unraveling the Role of Microbes in Stabilizing Carbon Pools in Soils

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Alice Dohnalkova

Microorganisms are fundamental to biogeochemical cycling, as microbial metabolism significantly contributes to the regulation of terrestrial carbon and nitrogen cycling. However, the impact of the…

The effect of trace element content on the rate of biotic and abiotic pyrite oxidation

Lead Institution

University of California, Riverside

Principal Investigator

Timothy Lyons

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

The oxidation of pyrite is a common source of toxic trace elements and acid generation in many contaminated systems. A key component in understanding the potential threat to ecosystems and possible…

Probing Phase States of Individual Sub-micron Particles at Various Relative Humidity and Temperature

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Swarup China

The viscosity of organic aerosols is a pivotal property to predict their health and environmental impact. Viscosity influences particle growth rate, diffusivity, chemical reactivity, and impacts the…

Site specific atomic resolution chemical imaging to probe structure-property relationship under dynamic and/or operando conditions using in-situ and ex-situ methods based on multi-instrument approach

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Chongmin Wang

The goal of this proposal is to develop chemical imaging capabilities that drive the atomic-level imaging and spectroscopic analysis of materials related to energy and environmental issues under in…

Carbon, Oxide, Metal Sequestration Mechanisms of Hot Springs Microbial Communities: Establishing a Technical Platform for Chemical Imaging Investigation

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Sherry Cady

Though microbes can indirectly and metabolically transform, sequester, and transport (i) ions, (ii) organic and inorganic complexes, and (iii) precipitates via a wide range of mechanisms,…

Thermal Stability of Nanostructures - An Experimental and Modeling Investigation

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Aashish Rohatgi

The goal of this proposal is to develop nanostructured magnesium (Mg)-based alloys that can be fabricated in bulk form (>1 cm3) without compromising their nanostructure, either during the…

Characterization and Development of a Ag/ZrO2/SiO2 Catalyst for the Conversion of Bio-Derived Ethanol to Linear Butenes

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Robert Dagle

The overall objective of this study is to further investigate our recent catalyst innovation enabling the selective, single-step conversion of bio-derived ethanol to 1- and 2-butene (linear butenes)…

Volumetric Density of Alpha-recoil Tracks in Uranium Oxide by TEM

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Theva Thevuthasan

Considerable effort has been and is being expended to explore various avenues related to nuclear forensics, whether they are for environmental signatures, remediation, or proliferation detection and…

Dynamics of Supported Noble metal Nanoparticles in the Presence of Oxidizing Environment: Application of Compressive Sensing in ETEM

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Libor Kovarik

Direct atomic level visualization of structural and surface transformations of nanoparticles during exposure to oxidizing environment is critical for developing a structure-property relationship in…

Nanoscale compositional and structural analysis of U-10Mo alloys.

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Arun Devaraj

PNNL as a part of the U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration's Office of Conversion within the Office of Material Minimization and Management (M3) is working on…

Advanced Microstructural Characterization of Metallic Alloys for High Temperature Applications in Automobile Engines

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Arun Devaraj

Advanced microstructural characterization of next generation propulsion materials can provide material processing-microstructure-mechanical property relationships. In addition, advanced…

EMSL/FCSD Scientific Partner Proposal on the Dynamics of Biological and Catalytic Systems

Lead Institution

University of Liverpool

Principal Investigator

Nigel Browning

Project type

Scientific Partner

The goal of this Scientific Partner Proposal is to develop the capability to observe “live” biological and catalytic processes in the dynamic transmission electron microscope (DTEM). Live biological…

An Experimental and Modeling Investigation of Solidification and Microstructural Evolution in Magnesium Alloys using in situ Techniques

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Aashish Rohatgi

The goal of this proposal is to understand the microstructural evolution during non-equilibrium, rapid solidification of a molten magnesium-aluminum-zinc (AZ91) alloy, and during its subsequent heat…

Developing a predictive understanding of thermodynamics and kinetics of phase transformation and defect evolution during concurrent ion irradiation and transient heating

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Arun Devaraj

As a part of PNNL Physical and computational sciences directorate seed LDRD project, we aim to develop a predictive understanding of the phase transformation pathway and defect evolution mechanisms…

Influence of Adsorbed Organic Acids on Soil Mineral Wettability

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

John Loring

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

Soil wettability is dictated by the extent to which hydrophilic mineral surfaces are covered by hydrophobic soil organic carbon (SOC) from bacterial decomposition, decaying plant matter, or root…

Computational and Experimental Investigations into Ethanol and Higher (C2+) Oxygenate Synthesis from Biomass-derived Syngas Using Rh-based Catalysts

Lead Institution

Archer Daniels Midland Company

Principal Investigator

Karl Albrecht

Novel catalyst design is essential and combined experimental and theoretical/computational catalysis can provide the essential mechanisms, influence of promoters, energetics, selectivity, and…

Atomic and nanoscale investigation of heterogeneous ice nucleation

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Lyle Gordon

Clouds control Earth's weather and climate. They cool the atmosphere by reflecting infrared solar radiation and warm the planet's surface by trapping infrared radiation. The nucleation of…

Extracellular Research Thrust for EMSL SSA

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Kirsten Hofmockel

This project will develop a conceptual framework that defines the biotic and abiotic mechanisms regulating the persistence of mineral associated organic matter (OM). The specific goals are to…

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