Nuclear Science and National Chemistry Week
It's two for one! Celebrate both Nuclear Science Week and National Chemistry Week with us
The research explores the structure and functionality of metal oxides in heterogeneous catalysis. There is a strong emphasis on evaluating the structure of materials under reaction conditions with in situ solid-state magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (ssMAS NMR).
(Photo by Andrea Starr | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)
Nuclear Science Week and National Chemistry Week collide October 18–22. So, we thought we’d bring you the best and latest in nuclear and chemistry research at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). For over half a century, we’ve applied our expertise in these key research areas to advance the nation’s energy, environment, and security frontiers.
Chemistry Controlling Thin Films with Atomic “Spray Painting” – Without thin films, there would be no modern electronics or high-quality mirrors. The semiconductor chips used in our cell phones and computers rely on thin films made of different materials, including metal oxides that contain at least one metal as well as oxygen. Metal oxide thin films serve as more than just a layer within electronics. They have applications in sensing, catalysis, and energy storage. Creating thin films that can replace the liquid layer in batteries or promote specific chemical transformations requires understanding the materials at an atomic level.  Making Methane from CO2: Carbon Capture Grows More Affordable – In their ongoing effort to make carbon capture more affordable, researchers at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have developed a method to convert captured carbon dioxide (CO2) into methane, the primary component of natural gas. By streamlining a longstanding process in which CO2 is converted to methane, the researchers’ new method reduces the materials needed to run the reaction, the energy needed to fuel it and, ultimately, the selling price of the gas.  The New Energy Sciences Center – With core funding of $90 million from the U.S. Department of Energy for the facility’s construction, the Energy Sciences Center will accelerate scientific discovery in chemistry, materials science, and computing. Workspaces where scientists and engineers work together will allow for new collaborations, applying new knowledge to advanced energy technology development. |
Nuclear Science It’s Elemental: Ultra-trace Detector Tests Gold Purity – Unless radon gas is discovered in a home inspection, most people remain blissfully unaware that rocks like granite, metal ores, and some soils contain naturally occurring sources of radiation. In most cases, low levels of radiation are not a health concern. But some scientists and engineers are concerned about even trace levels of radiation, which can wreak havoc on sensitive equipment. The semiconductor industry, for instance, spends billions each year to source and “scrub” ultra-trace levels of radioactive materials from microchips, transistors and sensitive sensors. Explainable AI: A Must for Nuclear Nonproliferation, National Security - We’ve all met people so smart and informed that we don’t understand what they’re talking about. The investment advisor discussing derivatives, the physician elaborating about B cells and T cells, the auto mechanic talking about today’s computerized engines—we trust their decisions, even though we do not completely grasp the meaning of their words.  Longstanding Nuclear Safeguards Project Wraps up with a System Sendoff - A team of nuclear engineers, physicists, data scientists, mechanical engineers, millwrights, technicians, and managers gathered to bid farewell to a nuclear safeguards system that has been under development and testing for nearly 13 years. Later this year, the prototype Unattended Cylinder Verification Station (UCVS), developed to support the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), will be packed in a shipping container and leave PNNL for further testing in Vienna, Austria. |