Projects

First Principles Modeling Of Oxygen Reduction at Complex Perovskite Surfaces for Fuel Cell and Gas Separation Applications

Lead Institution

Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Latvia

Principal Investigator

Jevgenijs Kotomins

Project type

Exploratory Research

Using DFT first principles method implemented in VASP 5.0 computer code for large scale parallel calculations, we will study the atomic, electronic structure and physico-chemical properties of oxygen…

Hydrogen Bond Networks

Lead Institution

University of Minnesota

Principal Investigator

Steven Kass

Project type

Exploratory Research

Nature employs hydrogen bonds to organize biomolecular structures and optimize the catalytic ability of enzymes. The effects of hydrogen bond networks are relatively unknown and will be explored by…

Magnesium NMR of DNA Repair Proteins

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Andrew Lipton

Project type

Exploratory Research

The chemistry central to the function of the DNA repair proteins apurinic/apyrimidic endonuclease 1 (APE1) and polymerase beta (pol beta) is the chemistry of water activated by a magnesium ion. …

Characterization of Effector and Host Proteins Involved in Host-Pathogen Interactions

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Joshua Adkins

Project type

Exploratory Research

The multiple mechanisms by which pathogenic enterobacteria of the genus Salmonella infect their host indicate a complex host-pathogen relationship. The pathogen secretes dozens of proteins, termed &…

Intermediate-scale Experiments to Test a Novel Vapor-phase Tomography Method

Lead Institution

University of Arizona

Principal Investigator

Jon Mainhagu

Project type

Exploratory Research

The objective of this experimental study, funded by the DOE Office of Groundwater and Soil Remediation (EM-32), is to evaluate a new vapor-phase tomography method by conducting a series of…

Determination of Water Saturation in Relatively Dry and Desiccated Porous Media using Gas-phase Partitioning Tracer Tests

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Michael Truex

Project type

Exploratory Research

Soil desiccation (drying), involving water evaporation induced by dry air injection and extraction, is a potentially robust remediation process to slow migration of inorganic or radionuclide…

Ion-Beam and X-ray Chemical Analysis of MOxNy (M=Zr,Ti) Thin Films

Lead Institution

University of Texas at El Paso

Principal Investigator

Chintalapalle Ramana

Project type

Exploratory Research

The development of new/novel functional materials, which can exhibit superior structural and electronic properties at the reduced dimensions, for application in energy technologies is a challenging…

Computer-aided Design of a Catalytic Proton Channel

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Wendy Shaw

Project type

Exploratory Research

The objective of the proposed research is to incorporate a rationally designed proton channel into homogeneous catalysts using advanced enzyme design methodology combined with superior molecular…

Effect of Structure and Impurities on Charge Transfer Reactions in Solid State Electrochemical Devices

Lead Institution

Boston University

Principal Investigator

Srikanth Gopalan

Project type

Exploratory Research

We are investigating epitaxial thin films of SOFC cathodes on single crystal substrates and polycrystalline thin films on yttria doped zirconia substrates. The goal is to use these films to perform…

Parallel Reactive Transport Modeling of Radioactive Waste Form Weathering using the STORM Code

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Diana Bacon

Project type

Exploratory Research

The STORM parallel reactive transport code has been developed to simulate the geochemical weathering of radioactive waste forms after disposal in a subsurface facility. STORM simulates unsaturated…

Physical properties of natural siliceous sinters from thermal springs

Lead Institution

University of Montana

Principal Investigator

Nancy Hinman

Project type

Exploratory Research

We propose a study of physical properties of naturally occurring silica minerals to examine the ultrastructure of silica minerals in hydrothermal systems. Our work also will include a study of the…

CASMGS Consortium (PNNL Scope #43606)

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

James Amonette

Project type

Exploratory Research

The CASMGS Consortium will provide the information and technology necessary to develop, analyze and implement carbon sequestration strategies. Work authorization text added 8/11/05: The United…

Pore-Scale Investigation of the Impacts of Solution Chemistry on Mixing-Induced Mineral Precipitation in Silicon-Based Micromodels

Lead Institution

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering

Principal Investigator

Changyong Zhang

Project type

Exploratory Research

CO2 sequestration in geologic formations is increasingly being studied as a strategy for limiting CO2 emission to the atmosphere, but there are potentials for geochemical reactions in the reservoirs…

Study of Kinetics of Oxide Scale Formation in air on Nicrofer-6025HT for Clean Coal Energy Delivery and other High Temperature Applications using XPS

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Jens Darsell

Project type

Exploratory Research

Oxygen separation membranes for clean coal energy delivery in advanced coal based power plants rely on use of solid state electronic and ionic conductors which operate at temperatures in the range…

Microscale Spectroscopic Analyses of Cellulose Degradation and
Uptake by a Microbial Community

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Nancy Hess

Project type

Exploratory Research

We seek to describe the acquisition and incorporation of cellulose-derived C into a complex microbial community that was been enriched from soil. In doing so at batch culture scales we will further…

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Technology Assistance Program

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Gary Spanner

Project type

Exploratory Research

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 mandates that the United States' national laboratories offer technology assistance to small businesses. The Technology Assistance Program (TAP) operated by the…

Design of plasmonic probe tips to control light on the nanoscale for imaging and spectroscopy with ultrahigh spatial and temporal resolution

Lead Institution

University of Colorado at Boulder

Principal Investigator

Bernd Raschke

Project type

Exploratory Research

The optical probing of matter with simultaneous nanometer spatial and femtosecond temporal resolution has remained a great challenge. Here, using focused ion beam milling we will tune the optical…

Elucidation of Structure-Activity Relationship in Nanoparticle Inhalation Toxicology

Lead Institution

Battelle Columbus

Principal Investigator

Amit Gupta

Project type

Exploratory Research

Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT) are of great commercial interest. However, with increasing applications and production capacities of MWCNT, they are coming under intense scrutiny by the…

VEGETATION INFLUENCES ON LONG-TERM CARBON STABILIZATION IN SOILS, VIA PLANT ALLOCATION, TISSUE CHEMISTRY,
AND SOIL DEPTH EFFECTS

Lead Institution

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Margaret Torn

Project type

Exploratory Research

Soil organic matter is a major reservoir of carbon within the biosphere and has a fundamental impact on soil properties, and therefore on ecosystem functioning and sustainability. We are proposing to…

Impacts of Pore Scale Heterogeneity on Nanoparticle Motility and Transport: A Micromodel Study

Lead Institution

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering

Principal Investigator

Changyong Zhang

Project type

Exploratory Research

The increasing production, application and disposal of functionalized nanomaterials will inevitably lead to wide environmental impacts. Motility and transport of nanoparticles in the subsurface…