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Liquid and environmental TEM as transformative capabilities in carbon cycle research


EMSL Project ID
48579

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to develop a quantitative picture of the impact of increasing global temperatures on organic-soil mineral interactions within the context of both microbial control over mineral formation and immobilization of soluble organic matter (SOM) at soil mineral surfaces. In particular, we will define the stereochemical interactions, binding free energies, and activation barriers that characterize the SOM-mineral and microbe-mineral interfaces for a key set of mineral types and organic compositions. This will be accomplished by integrating in situ TEM capabilities of the Quiet Wing, expanded to incorporate a temperature-controlled, pH-metered, dual inlet flow stage, with the scanned probe imaging and force measurement capabilities available elsewhere in EMSL. These tools will be used to determine nucleation pathways, rates and resulting phases formed on films of both model and natural organic compounds relevant to soils and to measure the binding energies for these organics in contact with iron oxide and phyllosilicates mineral faces. This research addresses the BER mission of understanding of the roles of Earth's biogeochemical systems in determining climate. It uses laboratory experiments on organic-mineral interfaces to understand the interdependency of biogeochemical processes and carbon migration in soils. In addition, it enhances the ability of EMSL's Quiet Wing to advance the frontiers of climate and environmental science by introducing quantitative temperature control and chemical monitoring into its unique in situ liquid phase TEM capabilities.

Project Details

Project type
Special Science
Start Date
2014-09-19
End Date
2015-09-30
Status
Closed

Team

Principal Investigator

James De Yoreo
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Co-Investigator(s)

Nikolla Qafoku
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Team Members

Jiajun Chen
Institution
University of Washington

Christina Newcomb
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Daan Hein Alsem
Institution
Hummingbird Scientific

Ryan Hufschmid
Institution
University of Washington

Nigel Browning
Institution
University of Liverpool

Dongsheng Li
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory