Zihua Zhu | Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Improve predictive understanding of soil carbon cycling by characterizing composition, distribution, and persistence of soil organic matter using 3-D nanoscale mass spectrometric imaging and machine learning

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Zihua Zhu

Machine learning (ML) methods will be used to quantitatively determine relationships between soil organic matter (SOM) composition, mass fraction and reactivity and SOM-mineral interactions…

Analysis of corrosion products, TAP project request #11-46

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Mark Engelhard

This goal of this TAP project is to identify the composition and source of unexpected metal corrosion products.

Understanding the Interactions of the Plant Root and Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria with Unique Correlative Surface Imaging Tools

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Zihua Zhu

This research aims to achieve the following objectives: 1) integrate surface tools and apply them in submicron chemical mapping of the plant-microbe interface; 2) provide novel in vivo analysis of…

A portable multimodal microfluidic flow cell for in situ imaging of liquid by ToF-SIMS and SEM

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Zihua Zhu

Our technical and scientific objective is to provide a universal portable multimodal flow cell for in situ studies of dynamic liquid surfaces in various applications. Our business goal is to make…

Determination of Interstitial and Interface components of chrome coatings

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Mark Engelhard

Interfacial and interstitial components can be introduced into electrochemical deposited chrome plate, either intentionally or as a side effect of contamination. We are interested in determining the…

Interfacial Phenomena in Nanostructured Materials under Irradiation

Lead Institution

University of Tennessee

Principal Investigator

William Weber

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

Nanostructured materials provide the opportunity for tailoring physical, electronic, optical, and biological properties for a variety of technological applications, including novel catalysis, sensors…

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…

Improving Geochemical Source-term Models though an Increased Understanding of the Structure, Reactivity, and Dynamics of Nuclear Waste Form Interfaces

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Joseph Ryan

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

EMSL resources are requested to enable an international team of collaborators to solve fundamental problems in interfacial glass corrosion chemistry. With the recent dismissal of Yucca Mountain as…

Investigations on Electrode/Electrolyte Interfacial Reactions in Localized High-Concentration Electrolytes for Various Energy Storage Chemistries

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Mark Engelhard

Localized high-concentration electrolytes (LHCEs) developed at PNNL in 2017 for rechargeable lithium (Li) metal batteries show not only significant enhancement in protection of Li metal anode and…

Soft-Landing of Complex Ions on Surfaces

Lead Institution

Purdue University

Principal Investigator

Robert Cooks

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

Interaction of ions with surfaces is an area of active fundamental research in surface science relevant to a broad range of other scientific disciplines supported by the DOE Office of Science such as…

Correlative Imaging and Spectroscopy of Biological Systems and Structural Dynamics

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

James Evans

The overall objective of this project is to create an integrative capability for combining dynamic transmission electron microscopy with femtosecond x-ray diffraction, in situ and automated secondary…

Electrolyte Interfacial Reactions in Localized High Concentration Electrolytes for Various Energy Storage Chemistries

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Mark Engelhard

Localized high-concentration electrolytes (LHCEs) developed at PNNL in 2017 for rechargeable lithium (Li) metal batteries show not only significant enhancement in protection of Li metal anode and…

Chemistry of Aerosols in Mexico City: MILAGRO 2006 study.

Lead Institution

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Mary Gilles

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

The MILAGRO (Megacity Initiative: Local and Global Research Observations) Campaign in Mexico City 2006 was a collaborative effort with the DOE Atmospheric Science Program, the NSF MIRAGE-Mex field…

The role of organic/inorganic interfaces in a biological single crystal growth/carbon sequestration process.

Lead Institution

Northwestern University

Principal Investigator

Derk Joester

Project type

Limited Scope

In this rapid access proposal, we aim to corroborate experiments by graduate students Ching-Hsuan Wu and Emilie Campbell that challenge the currently accepted model of calcite (CaCO3) single crystal…

Building an automation-ready multimodal workflow for comprehensive 3D characterization of intact soil structures.

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Odeta Qafoku

3-dimensional (3D) characterization of intact soil structures (i.e. macro and microaggregates) will provide understandings on how soil physical, mineralogical, biotic heterogeneities control long…

Open Ocean Ship-Board Study of Atmospheric Aerosols at the Equatorial Pacific: Characterizing Iron in Marine Aerosol

Lead Institution

Central Washington University

Principal Investigator

Anne Johansen

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

Iron is a growth-limiting nutrient to phytoplankton in the open ocean, but its sources, chemistry and physical forms are largely unknown. Since phytoplankton control global climate by producing ~50%…

Correlative Imaging and Spectroscopy of Biological Systems and Structural Dynamics

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

James Evans

The overall objective of this project is to create an integrative capability for combining dynamic transmission electron microscopy with femtosecond x-ray diffraction, in situ and automated secondary…

Developing in-spectrometer photochemistry and integration of molecular imaging techniques: Probing photoinduced electronic structure variations in dye-sensitized TiO2 model system

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Ponnusamy Nachimuthu

The aim of this project is to develop capabilities that will advance the fundamental understanding of charge transfer and photochemical behavior of organic molecular layers on surfaces as applicable…

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,…

In-Situ/Liquid Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) for Environmental Interfaces

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

James Cowin

Project type

Exploratory Research

Chemistry of liquid interfaces is extremely important in environmental and industrial processes but is poorly understood. Liquid layers coat nearly all real-world systems from the oceans to…

Correlative Imaging and Spectroscopy of Biological Systems and Structural Dynamics

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

James Evans

The overall objective of this project is to create an integrative capability for combining dynamic transmission electron microscopy with femtosecond x-ray diffraction, in situ and automated secondary…

Surface-Induced Dissociation of Large Molecules in Mass Spectrometry

Lead Institution

Purdue University

Principal Investigator

Julia Laskin

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

The general objective of our research is to achieve a fundamental understanding of the reaction kinetics and dynamics of activating and dissociating complex molecular ions, develop molecular level…

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,…

57Fe-Mossbauer studies of sediment cores from Integrated Field-Scale Subsurface Research Challenge Site at Rifle, Colorado

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Ravi Kukkadapu

The U.S. DOE faces the challenge of cleaning up and/or monitoring large, dilute plumes contaminated by metals, such as U, Tc, Pu, Hg, Cr, etc, whose mobility and solubility change with aquifer redox…

Combining isotopic measurements using in situ Liquid SIMS and in situ TEM to determine the mechanism and kinetics of Li ion mobility in SEI layers

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Zihua Zhu

Li ion batteries are now indispensably used as energy storage devices for portable electronics, electric vehicles, and are starting to enter the market of the renewable energies. The rechargeable…

In-Situ/Liquid Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) for Environmental Interfaces

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

James Cowin

Project type

Exploratory Research

This is a continuation of EMSL project number 36601. A versatile and self-contained interface for high-vapor pressure liquid surfaces, including aqueous interfaces has been built that permits the…

Probing the Origins of Carbonate Precipitation by In Situ Nanoscale Microbe-Mineral Analysis and Mapping

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Sherry Cady

Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) precipitation through geological time has sequestered large amounts of CO2, but identification of non-skeletal CaCO3, especially bacterial, precipitates is often difficult…

Isotopic Measurements for MAJORANA

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Zihua Zhu

The current focal point of PNNL's nuclear physics program is the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR, and the follow-on 1-tonne scale experiment, a large array of ultra-low background high-purity germanium…

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…

Characterization of inorganic thin films on polymer substrate

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Theva Thevuthasan

We have received some oxide thin films that were grown on polymer substrate for characterization as a part of TAP program. The PIs are interested in elemental qunatifications in these films.

Combining isotopic measurements using in situ Liquid SIMS and in situ TEM to determine the mechanism and kinetics of Li ion mobility in SEI layers

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Zihua Zhu

Li ion batteries are now indispensably used as energy storage devices for portable electronics, electric vehicles, and are starting to enter the market of the renewable energies. The rechargeable…

Correlative High-Resolution Imaging and Spectroscopy to Characterize the Structure and Biogeochemical Function of Microbial Biofilms

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Matthew Marshall

Project type

Exploratory Research

This proposal leverages knowledge and experience gained from DOE-funded research to elucidate the mechanisms involved in dissimilatory metal reduction, as well as, microscale imaging and analytical…

Spatially-resolved -omics to target reaction partitioning mechanisms in a unique lignocellulose-degrading fungus

Lead Institution

University of Minnesota

Principal Investigator

Jonathan Schilling

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

Brown rot fungi are among a select group of filamentous fungi able to deconstruct lignocellulose, and their biochemical pathways have potential biofuels applications and carbon cycling implications…

TiO2 photocatalyst poisoning/contamination TAP project

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Mark Engelhard

Puralytics makes a water treatment system using UV-activated photoctalysis to remove organic and other contaminates from water. The photocatalytic material is becoming de-activated/contaminated by…

Elucidating synergistic plant-bacteria metabolic pathways for alleviating iron deficiency

Lead Institution

Oregon State University

Principal Investigator

Rene Boiteau

Nutrient mobilization from soil minerals is critical for plant growth, particularly in marginal lands with high pH soils or low phosphate availability. One way that rhizospheric bacteria enhance…

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