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Breadcrumb

  1. Research
  2. Scientific Discovery
  3. Chemistry
  4. Chemical Physics

Chemical 
Physics

Researchers study biological organic materials, such as proteins and intra- and extracellular structures, to better understand the complex chemical language cells and microbes use to communicate and perform fundamental functions relevant to energy and the environment. During study, researchers often need to move atomic-scale samples while keeping them in controlled environments. The Environmental Transfer Hub (ETH) was designed and built at EMSL, the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, to transfer materials under controlled environments.

Andrea Starr | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

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Interesting things occur in the places where change is happening. Where solid ice meets liquid water, where crystals form on a solid surface, where molecules condense into new phases of matter. These are the places where chemistry meets physics, and much is learned about the fundamental forces that guide and underpin research in energy storage and conversion and much of the other research conducted at PNNL.

The places where liquid meets solid, where gas condenses to liquid, these interfaces are challenging to study and yet essential to understand. They require a combination of advanced theory and computational modeling, combined with experiment to fully explore. Investments in chemical imaging technology, computational capability, and modeling methods provide the tools that allow this exploration.

Liquid/liquid and liquid/solid interfaces built one molecule at a time provide uniform structures whose chemistry is understood and visualized at a level of detail not available in bulk materials. Similarly, we can isolate individual ions solvated by adding one solvent molecule at a time. We use X-ray spectroscopic methods to study how solutions behave under extreme experimental conditions and then combine those results with advanced theory and modeling methods to help interpret the results. We study pattern formation and self-assembly, phase transitions, and crystal nucleation, all in the service of better understanding the fundamental physical properties that underlie nearly every facet of the natural world.

Top Stories

MARCH 28, 2023
Staff Accomplishment

Xantheas Honored with Gauss Professorship

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Sotiris Xantheas
JULY 20, 2022
Feature

Enriching Science Education with Thin Films

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kaspar
JUNE 24, 2022
Staff Accomplishment

Sotiris Xantheas Awarded ICASEC Fellowship

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Sotiris Xantheas
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Featured Research

MARCH 24, 2023
Research Highlight

The Primary Gas Phase Hydration Shell of Hydroxide

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SEPTEMBER 22, 2022
Spotlight

Understanding the Ways of Water

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Water molecules with an ion
AUGUST 30, 2022
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Quieting Noise by Compressing Quantum Circuits

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Facilities & Centers

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Related Divisions

Physical Sciences Division

Related Links

What is Biocatalysis?

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