Projects

Coking- and sintering-resistant surface-mounted sub-nano cluster catalysts of endothermic cooling

Lead Institution

University of California, Los Angeles

Principal Investigator

Anastassia Alexandrova

Project type

Exploratory Research

The ultimate objective of the proposed research is understanding and design of novel catalytic surfaces based on sub-nano surface-deposited clusters, with a particular application to dehydrogenation…

Impact of natural organic matter on U speciation and mobility in groundwater

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

John Bargar

Project type

Exploratory Research

Uranium (U) contamination of aquifers is a persistent problem at DOE legacy ore processing sites and, contrary to initial predictions, many plumes are not attenuating with natural groundwater…

X-ray tomography to incorporate redox conditions into soil carbon turnover models

Lead Institution

Oregon State University

Principal Investigator

Markus Kleber

Project type

Exploratory Research

We suggest that X-ray tomography can be successfully employed to generate numerical values of a) total pore space, b) pore geometry, c) pore size distribution and d) pore connectivity at relevant…

Characterization of chemisorption products from CO2 and amine bearing polymers via solid-state NMR

Lead Institution

Washington University in St. Louis

Principal Investigator

Sophia Hayes

Project type

Exploratory Research

The objective of this proposed work is to characterize the chemisorption products of CO2 interacting with solid-supported amine materials. The aim is to use these materials to capture CO2 from flue…

First-Principles Calculations of Excited-State Processes in Scintillator Materials

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Sebastien Kerisit

Project type

Exploratory Research

The objective of the proposed research is to enhance our understanding of and ability to simulate excited states in wide-bandgap materials with the specific goal of predicting the luminescence…

Laser-Materials Interactions: Theory and Experiment (Kay's BES-Surface Kinetics, PNNL Scope #16248)

Lead Institution

University College London

Principal Investigator

Alexander Shlyuger

Project type

Exploratory Research

Laser ablation and desorption techniques form the basis of unique methods for producing novel materials, performing sophisticated chemical analysis or medical procedures. Although laser ablation…

Liquid Infrared Spectroscopy and Spill Phenomenology (Hylden FTIR-Liquids, PNNL Scope # 44568)

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Paul Gassman

Project type

Exploratory Research

We propose to measure the fundamental absorbance characteristics of neat liquids using a conventional Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR). These optical constants are essential to…

Mechanisms and Kinetics of Organic Aging in High-Level Nuclear Waste (PNNL Scope #29531)

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Thomas Autrey

Project type

Exploratory Research

Examine the aging of organic chemicals in high-level nuclear wastes stored in tanks at Hanford and develop a mechanistic model describing the reactions and kinetics. The part of the work involving…

Investigation of strain in InGaN MQW structures

Lead Institution

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Michael Johnson

Project type

Exploratory Research

InGaN/GaN MQW structures have been grown using a commercial MOCVD reactor. These structures are commonly used for high brightness LEDs and are a necessary component for developing practical white…

The role of protein - mineral interactions for protein cycling in soil and protein extraction efficiency from soils

Lead Institution

Oregon State University

Principal Investigator

Markus Kleber

Project type

Exploratory Research

We intend (1) to improve the ability to detect proteins in physical soil fractions, and (2) to discover preferences of exoenzymes for relevant classes of mineral components in soil. The latter will…

Development of a Computationally Inexpensive Method for Incorporating Shear-Dispersion into Pore Network Models Using Micromodel Experimental Data

Lead Institution

University of Texas at Austin

Principal Investigator

Matthew Balhoff

Project type

Exploratory Research

The mixed-cell method (MCM) is the most commonly used Eulerian pore-scale model for reactive flow and transport. Two major disadvantages of MCM are its assumptions of (1) pore-level perfect mixing,…

Laboratory Testing of a Novel Unbalanced Recirculation Method for Field Matrix (Back) Diffusion Quantification

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Mart Oostrom

Project type

Exploratory Research

There is a distinct need to develop and validate field-scale methods for estimating matrix (back) diffusion because degradation and diffusion of contaminants at interfaces of low- and high…

Mass spectral characterization of submicron aerosol particles in the Amazon rain forest as part of GoAmazon2014

Lead Institution

Harvard University

Principal Investigator

Scot Martin

Project type

Exploratory Research

GoAmazon2014, a field campaign approved by DOE ARM, focuses on the influence of pollutant outflow from a tropical megacity (Manaus) on the lifecycles of aerosols and clouds, as well as on aerosol…

Carbon management and energy efficiency through chemical reactivity of CO2.

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Vassiliki-Alexandra Glezakou

Project type

Exploratory Research

Advances in computational software and computer architectures have enabled the study of complicated phenomena resulting from intensified efforts towards energy efficiency, emissions management and…

In Situ and Ex Situ Studies of Energy Storage Materials

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Karl Mueller

Project type

Exploratory Research

Innovation of energy storage technology depends critically on the fundamental understanding of the operating mechanism and dynamic interaction across different components in the storage unit. With…

Understanding bio-oil aging and competing thermal reactions with the use of continuous in situ NMR and EPR techniques

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Mariefel Olarte

Project type

Exploratory Research

Biomass is the most readily available renewable source of liquid transportation fuel. According to DOE, fast pyrolysis followed by catalytic upgrading is projected to be the most cost effective among…

Understanding and Utilizing Block Copolymer Templates for the Preparation of Bimetallic Catalysts for Fuel Cell Applications

Lead Institution

Western Washington University

Principal Investigator

David Rider

Project type

Exploratory Research

The invention of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) occurred over a half-century ago and, in spite of extensive developments of its science and its components, its widespread…

The role of protein-mineral interactions for protein oxidation and hydrolysis

Lead Institution

Oregon State University

Principal Investigator

Markus Kleber

Project type

Exploratory Research

We intend (1) to establish the molecular range of modifications to protein integrity and protein structure as such protein becomes associated with mineral surfaces and (2) to determine how mechanisms…

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy structure determination of the cobalamin binding protein HgcA required for bacterial mercury methylation

Lead Institution

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Alexander Johs

Project type

Exploratory Research

Mercury is a pervasive global pollutant. Its methylated form, methylmercury, poses a substantial threat to human health. Methylation of mercury (Hg) by anaerobic bacteria is the primary source of…

Effect of organic carbon functional groups on the trapping and transformations of U(VI)

Lead Institution

Stanford University

Principal Investigator

Gordon Brown

Project type

Exploratory Research

Understanding the behavior of U(VI) in natural environments is crucial for controlling U contamination from uranium mining and milling activities at DOE legacy sites [1]. Previous studies of U…