Amine functionalized graphene oxide yields laminates with an enhanced capacity to adsorb rare earth elements, improved water transport, and greater stability for effective membrane-based separation of critical minerals.

Establishing how electronic redistribution, protonation, and solvent rearrangement are coupled during a proton-coupled electron transfer process.

New software enables the study of nuclear quantum effects in large, condensed phase systems up to 10× faster than traditional methods.

Replacing commercial acid with acidic waste enables researchers to improve nickel extraction efficiency, lower projected costs, and improve process economics.

Localized gradients in magnetic fields have long-range effects on the concentration of rare earth ions in solution, facilitating field-driven extraction of critical minerals.

Studying a series of rare earth element compounds revealed differences in their magnetic behavior that will be leveraged for separations.

Scientists provide a guide for the rational application of continuum descriptions of fluid flows based on interfacial chemistry.

Soil mineral preferentially incorporates rare earth elements based on size, with implications for critical mineral extraction.

Delivering an integrated quantum-mechanical and experimental perspective on the effects of both intrinsic and externally applied electric fields at atomic-scale interfaces.

Isotopically layered water films and slow heating enable diffusion tracking.

A team combined experiments and theory to predict the collective properties of electrolyte solutions.

The first measurement of the proton diffusion constant at cryogenic temperatures provides insights into the mechanism of proton movement in supercooled water.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory researchers developed a new theoretical method for studying highly correlated systems.

Researchers investigated how stable nanoparticle suspensions form using facet engineering on hematite nanoparticles, demonstrating that controlling the faceting of nanoparticles can effectively maintain particle dispersity.

PNNL helps deliver efficiency-related rules and requirements that steadily improve performance of America’s buildings, saving energy and costs and reducing carbon emissions.

Mandy Mahoney, director of the DOE Building Technologies Office, visited PNNL in late November. One key agenda item involved meeting with staff for a discussion of effective equity and justice integration in buildings-related research.

The first study modeling the mechanism of hydrated electron formation from aqueous iodide.

The PNNL-managed Building America Solution Center translates research into actionable considerations for homeowners and builders to provide two solutions in one: increasing energy efficiency while also enhancing disaster resistance.

A PNNL team’s analysis of new-housing data concludes that single-family homes in lower-income counties are less energy-code-compliant than in higher-income counties, a finding that could shape strategies for enhanced code adoption.

PNNL and University of Texas at El Paso leverage partnership and joint appointment program for a laboratory directed research and development project.