Skip to main content

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.

TEM Study of Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Polymer-Derived Ceramic Composites

Lead Institution
University of Central Florida
Principal Investigator
Linan An
Project type
Exploratory Research
Carbon nanotube (CNT), the strongest material has ever been discovered, is very promising as reinforcement for composites applications. However, processing control to achieve uniform nano-scale…

Growth mechanisms of graphene on thin Ni films

Lead Institution
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Principal Investigator
Jing Kong
Project type
Exploratory Research
The growth of single- to few- layer graphene is implemented by ambient pressure CVD on thin Ni films (~500 nm). ToF-SIMS will be used to investigate the growth mechanisms of graphene over the Ni…

Exploring the processes that control uranyl reduction by magnetite and the growth of nanoparticulate surface precipitates by X-ray scattering and X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Lead Institution
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Principal Investigator
Glenn Waychunas
Project type
Exploratory Research
Uranium (U) has been released into the environment through mining operations, nuclear testing, and accidental spills, and is a contaminant in soils, sediments and groundwater at 70% of the Department…

Investigation of Surface Structures on Supported Vanadium Oxide Model Catalysts

Lead Institution
University of California, Berkeley
Principal Investigator
Alexis Bell
Project type
Large-Scale EMSL Research
Vanadium oxo clusters supported on a high surface area support constitute an active, selective catalyst for several important reactions, including oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and oxidative…

Rhodobacter sphaerodies

Lead Institution
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Principal Investigator
Timothy Donohue
Project type
Exploratory Research
Rhodobacter sphaerodies 2.4.1. is a-3 purple nonsulfur eubacterium with an extensive metabolic repertoire. Under anaerobic conditions, it is able to grow by photosynthesis, respiration and…

The Secretome of Metal-Reducing Shewanella oneidensis

Lead Institution
Georgia Institute of Technology
Principal Investigator
Thomas DiChristina
Project type
Large-Scale EMSL Research
The metabolic reactions catalyzed by metal- and radionuclide-reducing bacteria greatly influence the geochemistry of natural and contaminated environments. One of the more remarkable activities…

NMR Analysis of Bioprocess Samples

Lead Institution
Washington State University Tri-Cities
Principal Investigator
Kathleen McAteer
Project type
Large-Scale EMSL Research
The overall project is directed towards utilization of filamentous fungi for conversion of complex biomass to industrial commodity chemicals biofuels, organic acids or chemical feed-stocks for other…

ETA-Photovoltaics materials Interface optimization

Lead Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Principal Investigator
Timothy Droubay
Project type
Large-Scale EMSL Research
We will provide a fundamental scientific foundation to understand the charge transport in novel oxide-based solar cells, and to tailor the transport by doping and/or interface modification of the…

Integrate the so-called CRENBL spin-orbit operator into NWChem

Lead Institution
Self (Ermler)
Principal Investigator
Walter Ermler
Project type
Exploratory Research
The main objective is to integrate the so-called CRENBL spin-orbit operator potential parameters that I have developed, and will continue to develop during my visit, into the NWChem software suite…

TeO2 detector surfaces

Lead Institution
University of South Carolina
Principal Investigator
Frank Avignone
Project type
Exploratory Research
Examine composition of detector surfaces, and determine optimum cleaning method.

Particle size, Associations, and Crystallinity of Bioreduced Uranium phases

Lead Institution
Stanford University
Principal Investigator
Scott Fendorf
Project type
Exploratory Research
Due to mining and nuclear-production activities, uranium is an environmental contaminant of great concern; within surface and subsurface environments, uranium predominates in either the (VI) or (IV)…

Real Time Trace Gas Measurements by Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Lead Institution
Washington State University
Principal Investigator
Bertram Jobson
Project type
Exploratory Research
Develop and applying proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry for the real time analysis of hydrocarbons in air and on particulate matter. This technique will be evaluated for suitability for…

COntinuous Isosorbide Production

Lead Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Principal Investigator
Johnathan Holladay
Project type
Exploratory Research
This project focuses on developing new catalytic materials and novel processes for the conversion of sorbitol to isosorbide (1,4-3,6-dianhydrosorbitol). The purpose of the work is two fold: (1)…

TGA/DSC Analysis of Anhydrosugar Samples

Lead Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Principal Investigator
Johnathan Holladay
Project type
Exploratory Research
As part of our ongoing DOE EE/RE project directed toward developing a continuous process for the production of isosorbide from sugar we need to develop a rapid and accurate method for determining…

New Technologies for Reduction of Automobile Exhaust Emissions

Lead Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Principal Investigator
Charles Peden
Project type
Exploratory Research
The goal of the research is to evaluate the effectiveness of a non-thermal plasma in conjunction with catalytic materials to mediate exhaust gas emissions from diesel fueled light duty compression…