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Projects

As a scientific user facility, the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) provides expertise, instrumentation, and resources to 250 projects each year. 

Projects displayed below reflect information and abstracts that were published before April 30, 2024. To review current EMSL user projects, visit Science Central™.

  • Projects beginning at or after given date.
    Projects ending at or before given date.

Nondestructive Carbon Nanotube Modification of Tailored Functionality

Lead Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Principal Investigator
Leonard Fifield
Project type
Exploratory Research
As part of JIN Award 2002, wll be working with Chris Aardahl to develop new materials that harness the qualities of carbon nanotubes. Actuator devices based on these materials will be constructed as…

White Layer Characterization

Lead Institution
Portland State University
Principal Investigator
William Wood
Project type
Exploratory Research
Metallurgists have widely reported a thin, featureless layer on the surface of sliding components in many industrires. It has been called white layer due to its resistance to chemical etching. The…

Dilute magnetic semiconducting oxide thin films and nanostructures

Lead Institution
University of Washington
Principal Investigator
Kannan Krishnan
Project type
Exploratory Research
As JIN Award 2002, we propose to investigate the growth, magnetic properties and spin-dependent transport in the recently discovered Co-doped anatase ferromagnetic semiconductor thin films. Emphasis…

Characterization of Sn Whiskers

Lead Institution
Washington State University
Principal Investigator
M. Norton
Project type
Exploratory Research
Sn whiskers have for long been known as a failure mechanism in electronic components. This study seeks to determine the origin of Sn whiskers and their growth mechanism. In this collaboration with…

Excited states of DNA hairpins

Lead Institution
Northwestern University
Principal Investigator
George Schatz
Project type
Exploratory Research
We propose to investigate theoretically, using time-dependent density functional methods, the excited states of DNA oligomeric structures (hairpins and dumbbells) constituted of 1 to 6 base pairs…

Chrome Valance State Analysis

Lead Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Principal Investigator
Michael Schweiger
Project type
Exploratory Research
Cr+3 and Cr+6 valance state in simulated high-level waste glass samples will be analyzed using XPS in Lab 1216. Minor XRD analysis may be needed using equipment in Lab 1422.

MD Simulation of DNA Oligonucleotides Containing Base Damage (fsd4)

Lead Institution
Washington State University Tri-Cities
Principal Investigator
John Miller
Project type
Exploratory Research
Objectiive:This pilot project will investigate the performance of NWChem for simulating the molecular dynamics of double-strand DNA when one of the base pairs in a dodecamer (approximately one turn…

Strengthening mechanisms in ultra high strength corrosion resistant steel

Lead Institution
Portland State University
Principal Investigator
William Wood
Project type
Exploratory Research
We are investigating the precipitation reactions that occur during high speed induction heat treatment of a ultra high strength corrosion resistant steel containing C,N,Cr, Ti V, Mo. We would like to…

Supercritical Fluid Immersion Deposition of Metal Films on Semiconductor

Lead Institution
University of California, San Diego
Principal Investigator
Xiang-Rong Ye
Project type
Exploratory Research
Objective: Currently one challenging issue in electronic industry is filling trenches and small features for interconnection. However, conventional CVD process can't accomplish this purpose…

Analysis of Silicon Nitride Thin Films

Lead Institution
Idaho State University
Principal Investigator
Rene Rodriguez
Project type
Exploratory Research
We would like to determine the atomic composition as a function of depth for thin films of silicon nitride deposited on silicon wafers. We are also interested in the cyrstallinity of the material as…

Microbial Reduction of Illite and Glauconite

Lead Institution
Miami University
Principal Investigator
Hailiang Dong
Project type
Exploratory Research
This project investigates reduction of Fe(III) in structure of sedimentary illite and glauconite by Shewanella oneidensis CN32, and possible implications for bioremediation and subsurface microbial…

Incorporation of Cellulose Nanocrystals Into PHB/PHV Copolymer

Lead Institution
Washington State University
Principal Investigator
Michael Wolcott
Project type
Exploratory Research
The objective of this research is to devise methods to produce nano-scale crystalline cellulose (NCC) with aspect ratios between 10-80 and to characterize the interphase of the crystals, specific to…

Theoretical Modelling of Defects in Oxides

Lead Institution
University College London
Principal Investigator
Alexander Shlyuger
Project type
Exploratory Research
We will model the structure and defect properties in KBr, SiO2, MgO, and possibly Al2O3 and ZrO2. The main topics will include: i) the structure and properties of oxygen vacancies and interstitial…

Medicine Container Diagnosis

Lead Institution
XL Science & Technology
Principal Investigator
Y Peng
Project type
Exploratory Research
Use of envioronmental SEM for non-destructive diagnosis of medicine container without open or breaking medicine vial. Environmental SEM is best suited and a necessity. Chemical make up of container:…