A clean-energy future for the United States relies on innovation. Our ability to control these essential energy transformations will require harnessing the power of chemistry.

Chemistry permeates research advances being made every day at PNNL. In national security, chemistry forms the basis for exploring new ways to detect chemical signatures to track and deter chemical and biological threats. Within earth systems, chemistry at work within plants and microbes informs our understanding of the health of the planet. In the realm of energy storage, a series of discoveries in redox flow batteries and other alternatives to today’s lithium-ion batteries could bring down the cost of energy storage. In the meantime, advances in lithium-ion research are improving existing technology.

And the fundamental science of chemical physics supports efforts in all these areas.

Tackling Complex Problems

Developing new forms of chemistry and innovating within established fields requires a team effort and the most advanced instrumentation.

Our catalysis research programs harness teams from across PNNL and the nation to tackle complex problems in many energy processes, including converting waste into fuel, creating efficient hydrogen fuel processes, or making biofuel out of plants resistant to breakdown. Each of these arenas is an invitation to PNNL scientists to engage—to improve in the catalytic process—increasing overall performance and lowering costs.

We continuously invest in this clean-energy future, making a $90 million investment in chemical, materials, and energy research with our Energy Sciences Center.