Skip to main content

PNNL

  • About
  • News & Media
  • Careers
  • Events
  • Research
    • Scientific Discovery
      • Biology
        • Chemical Biology
        • Computational Biology
        • Ecosystem Science
        • Human Health
          • Cancer Biology
          • Exposure Science & Pathogen Biology
          • Metabolic Inflammatory Diseases
        • Integrative Omics
          • Advanced Metabolomics
          • Chemical Biology
          • Mass Spectrometry-Based Measurement Technologies
          • Spatial and Single-Cell Proteomics
          • Structural Biology
        • Microbiome Science
          • Biofuels & Bioproducts
          • Human Microbiome
          • Soil Microbiome
          • Synthetic Biology
      • Chemistry
        • Computational Chemistry
        • Chemical Separations
        • Chemical Physics
        • Catalysis
      • Earth & Coastal Sciences
        • Atmospheric Science
          • Atmospheric Aerosols
          • Human-Earth System Interactions
          • Modeling Earth Systems
        • Coastal Science
        • Ecosystem Science
        • Plant Science
        • Subsurface Science
        • Terrestrial Aquatics
      • Materials Sciences
        • Materials in Extreme Environments
        • Precision Materials by Design
        • Science of Interfaces
        • Solid Phase Processing
          • Cold Spray
          • Friction Stir Welding & Processing
          • ShAPE
      • Nuclear & Particle Physics
        • Dark Matter
        • Flavor Physics
        • Fusion Energy Science
        • Neutrino Physics
      • Quantum Information Sciences
    • Sustainable Energy
      • Electric Grid Modernization
        • Emergency Response
        • Grid Analytics
          • AGM Program
          • Tools and Capabilities
        • Grid Architecture
        • Grid Cybersecurity
        • Grid Energy Storage
        • Grid Resilience and Decarbonization
          • Earth System Modeling
          • Energy System Modeling
        • Transmission
        • Distribution
      • Energy Efficiency
        • Appliance and Equipment Standards
        • Building Energy Codes
        • Building Technologies
          • Advanced Building Controls
          • Advanced Lighting
          • Building-Grid Integration
        • Building and Grid Modeling
        • Commercial Buildings
        • Federal Buildings
          • Federal Performance Optimization
          • Resilience and Security
        • Grid Resilience and Decarbonization
        • Residential Buildings
          • Building America Solution Center
          • Energy Efficient Technology Integration
          • Home Energy Score
        • Energy Efficient Technology Integration
      • Energy Storage
        • Electrochemical Energy Storage
        • Flexible Loads and Generation
        • Grid Integration, Controls, and Architecture
        • Regulation, Policy, and Valuation
        • Science Supporting Energy Storage
        • Chemical Energy Storage
      • Environmental Management
        • Waste Processing
        • Radiation Measurement
        • Environmental Remediation
      • Fossil Energy
        • Subsurface Energy Systems
        • Carbon Management
          • Carbon Capture
          • Carbon Storage
          • Carbon Utilization
        • Advanced Hydrocarbon Conversion
      • Nuclear Energy
        • Fuel Cycle Research
        • Advanced Reactors
        • Reactor Operations
        • Reactor Licensing
      • Renewable Energy
        • Solar Energy
        • Wind Energy
          • Distributed Wind
          • Wildlife and Wind
          • Wind Data Management
          • Wind Resource Characterization
        • Energy Equity & Health
        • Marine Energy
          • Environmental Monitoring for Marine Energy
          • Marine Biofouling and Corrosion
          • Marine Energy Resource Characterization
          • Testing for Marine Energy
          • The Blue Economy
        • Hydropower
          • Environmental Performance of Hydropower
          • Hydropower Cybersecurity and Digitalization
          • Hydropower and the Electric Grid
          • Materials Science for Hydropower
          • Pumped Storage Hydropower
          • Water + Hydropower Planning
        • Grid Integration of Renewable Energy
        • Geothermal Energy
      • Transportation
        • Bioenergy Technologies
          • Algal Biofuels
          • Aviation Biofuels
          • Waste-to-Energy and Products
        • Hydrogen & Fuel Cells
        • Vehicle Technologies
          • Emission Control
          • Energy-Efficient Mobility Systems
          • Lightweight Materials
          • Vehicle Electrification
          • Vehicle Grid Integration
    • National Security
      • Cybersecurity
        • Discovery and Insight
        • Proactive Defense
        • Trusted Systems
      • Nuclear Material Science
      • Nuclear Nonproliferation
        • Radiological & Nuclear Detection
        • Nuclear Forensics
        • Ultra-Sensitive Nuclear Measurements
        • Nuclear Explosion Monitoring
        • Global Nuclear & Radiological Security
      • Stakeholder Engagement
        • Disaster Recovery
        • Global Collaborations
        • Legislative and Regulatory Analysis
        • Technical Training
      • Systems Integration & Deployment
        • Additive Manufacturing
        • Deployed Technologies
        • Rapid Prototyping
        • Systems Engineering
      • Threat Analysis
        • Advanced Wireless Security
          • 5G Security
          • RF Signal Detection & Exploitation
        • Climate Security
        • Grid Resilience and Decarbonization
        • Internet of Things
        • Maritime Security
      • Chemical & Biothreat Signatures
        • Contraband Detection
        • Pathogen Science & Detection
        • Explosives Detection
        • Threat-Agnostic Biodefense
    • Data Science & Computing
      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Graph and Data Analytics
      • Software Engineering
      • Computational Mathematics & Statistics
      • High-Performance Computing
      • Visual Analytics
    • Lab Objectives
    • Publications & Reports
    • Featured Research
  • People
    • Inventors
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Lab Leadership
    • Lab Fellows
    • Staff Accomplishments
  • Partner with PNNL
    • Academia
      • Distinguished Graduate Research Programs
      • Internships
      • Visiting Faculty Program
      • Joint Appointments
      • Joint Institutes
      • Linus Pauling Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship
      • Minority-serving Institutions
    • Community
      • Regional Impact
      • STEM Education
        • Resources
        • Student STEM Ambassadors
        • STEM Ambassadors in the Classroom
      • Philanthropy
      • Volunteering
    • Industry
      • Available Technologies
      • Industry
      • Industry Partnerships
      • Licensing & Technology Transfer
      • Entrepreneurial Leave
  • Facilities & Centers
    • All Facilities
      • Atmospheric Radiation Measurement User Facility
      • Electricity Infrastructure Operations Center
      • Energy Sciences Center
      • Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory
      • Grid Storage Launchpad
      • Institute for Integrated Catalysis
      • Interdiction Technology and Integration Laboratory
      • PNNL Seattle Research Center
      • PNNL-Sequim
      • Radiochemical Processing Laboratory
      • Shallow Underground Laboratory

Breadcrumb

  1. Research
  2. Scientific Discovery
  3. Materials Sciences
  4. Precision Materials by Design

Precision
Materials
by Design

New nuclear and materials science capabilities in the Radiochemical Processing Laboratory (RPL) Radiological Microscopy Suite will benefit research across a number of disciplines. Researchers Edgar Buck (left) and Steven Spurgeon are among those using the 300kV JEOL GrandARM-300F aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope.

(Photo by Andrea Starr | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Earth & Coastal Sciences
  • Materials Sciences
    • Materials in Extreme Environments
    • Precision Materials by Design
    • Science of Interfaces
    • Solid Phase Processing
  • Nuclear & Particle Physics
  • Quantum Information Sciences
  • News & Updates
  • Publications
  • Projects

At PNNL, we are using this combination of theory, computation, and experiments to advance knowledge-driven synthesis of materials for applications in energy, optics, electronics, and quantum information sciences.

Quantum materials synthesis and characterization

Much remains to be learned about the role of material purity in the function of quantum computing devices, starting with synthesis and continuing through to device fabrication. Improvements in quantum gate stability will depend in part upon precision materials characterization that relates structure (angstrom to micron scale) and purity (impurity analysis at the parts per trillion to parts per million scale) to device performance. To this end, PNNL combines expertise in controlled materials synthesis and precision characterization techniques, including:

  • Aberration-Corrected Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy
  • Helium/Neon Ion Microscopy/Lithography
  • Plasma-Based Focused Ion Beam
  • Nano-/Micro-Computed Tomography
  • Atom Probe Tomography
  • Large Geometry Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry
  • Multi-Collector Inductive-Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry.

Understanding atomic-to-mesoscale synthesis

To control the creation of new functional materials, it is necessary to understand the forces that shape them at different scales. Our studies span the continuum from subatomic, to atomic, to molecular, to nanoscale, and beyond. These fundamental studies create foundational knowledge that will allow us to achieve real-time adaptive control over materials synthesis.

For instance, an understanding of superlattice structures formed during nanoparticle self-assembly is important to tailoring superlattice properties. However, key questions remain about how individual nanoparticles behave within emerging superlattice patterns. PNNL researchers are using advanced transmission electron microscopy equipped with direct detection camera capabilities to track individual nanoparticles in real time. Measurements obtained using these tools allow a calculation of the atomic forces competing to drive the assembly process, providing a fundamental understanding of the dynamics involved in the assembly process, and ultimately enabling investigators to control the design of nanoparticle superlattices.

Making better materials atom by atom

Studying the nanostructure of metal alloys atom by atom allowed PNNL researchers to see their alignment and then manipulate it to make the strongest titanium alloy ever developed. The team used electron microscopy to study the metal at nanometer scale and used 3D atom probe tomography to study individual atoms at EMSL, the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a DOE Office of Science user facility. This new understanding could lead to the creation of light, high-strength alloys for vehicles and other industrial applications.

Recent News

MARCH 21, 2023
Feature

Answering Big Questions with Thin Oxide Films

Read
Image showing three different samples, each held with tweezers in gloved hands.
AUGUST 22, 2022
News Release

Plastic Upcycling: From Waste to Fuel for Less

Read
plastic upcycling image showing plastics turning into fuel
JULY 20, 2022
Feature

Enriching Science Education with Thin Films

Read
kaspar
SEE MORE RELATED NEWS

Facilities & Centers

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory Center for the Science of Synthesis Across Scales Interfacial Dynamics in Radioactive Environments and Materials

Related Links

Publications: Reactor Materials and Mechanical Design

PNNL

  • Get in Touch
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Doing Business
    • Environmental Reports
    • Security & Privacy
    • Vulnerability Disclosure Program
  • Research
    • Scientific Discovery
    • Sustainable Energy
    • National Security
Subscribe to PNNL News
Department of Energy Logo Battelle Logo
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is managed and operated by Battelle for the Department of Energy
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn