The U.S. Department of Energy will fund two cutting-edge projects to replace rare-earth materials in magnets for wind turbines and electric vehicles. Researchers aim to develop new high-strength permanent magnets using cerium and manganese, reducing dependence on critical materials like rare earths.
Researchers at Ames Laboratory discovered citrate plays a crucial role in the nanostructure of bones, providing stiffness and preventing crack propagation. Higher citrate concentrations result in thinner apatite nanocrystals, which are more resistant to brittleness.
Researchers at Ames Laboratory developed a new alloy that converts heat into electrical energy with improved efficiency, paving the way for applications in vehicles, power generation, and recycling waste heat. The breakthrough uses rare-earth elements cerium or ytterbium to enhance thermoelectric properties.
Advancements in understanding rotational motion in living cells may shed light on disease causes, such as Alzheimer's. Researchers have developed a new technique using gold nanorods and differential interference contrast microscopy to reveal nanoparticle movement in live cells.
Researchers found that wind turbines increase airflow over nearby crops, keeping them cooler during hot days and warmer at night. This could lead to improved crop yields, reduced moisture levels and increased carbon dioxide absorption.
Researchers developed a special sequence of high-precision electromagnetic pulses to protect the arbitrary quantum state of a single spin. This breakthrough enables the use of nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond as highly sensitive nanoscale magnetic sensors and potentially, qubits for larger-scale quantum information processing.
The Ames Laboratory team will use the IBM Blue Gene supercomputer to model aerosol formation and simulate the bulk properties of water. The research aims to better understand how clouds form and impact global climate change, with potential applications in green chemistry and decontamination of water in developing nations.
A new class of materials may allow nanoscale machines to overcome mechanical friction by harnessing a quantum phenomenon known as the Casimir effect. Chiral metamaterials have been found to exert a repulsive force when placed in close proximity, enabling potential applications in industry, energy, and medicine.
The US is losing its leadership in discovering and growing new crystalline materials due to a decline in industrial research labs and foreign investment. The National Academy report highlights the Ames Laboratory as a center for new materials research and training ground for young researchers.
Researcher Rohit Trivedi conducts crystal growth experiments on the International Space Station using a mini lab called DECLIC. The goal is to understand how materials form crystals and how variations affect crystallization patterns, which govern material properties.
Physicists at Ames Laboratory have demonstrated that the superconductivity mechanism in iron-arsenide superconductors is unique compared to all other known classes of superconductors. The team found a power-law variation of London penetration depth, suggesting electron pairing different from any other known superconductor.
Researchers discovered that nanoscale lead atoms on silicon exhibit a fluid-like motion, enabling the formation of uniform-height islands in minutes. The unique behavior suggests that quantum mechanics governs the growth process, allowing for rapid self-assembly and potentially simplifying material properties manipulation.
Researchers at Ames Laboratory are developing nanocoatings to reduce friction and extend tool life, leading to a 31 trillion BTU annual energy savings by 2030. The coatings have shown exceptional hardness and can be applied to various industrial applications, including pumps and cutting tools.
Ames Laboratory researchers used a brand new instrument to study iron-arsenic compounds, which are part of the 'hottest' new find in superconducting materials research. The findings mark the first research produced with the aid of the new tool and provide insights into the role of lattice vibrations in these new superconductors.
Physicist John R. Clem developed a theory that reduces AC losses in bifilar fault-current limiters, enabling more efficient and cost-effective power grid protection. The research supports the development of commercial products by Siemens and American Superconductor.
Scientists at Ames Laboratory and Iowa State University develop a new method to produce ethanol from syngas, a gas created by heating biomass under high pressure. This technology has the potential to expand the types of waste materials that can be converted into fuels.
Researchers have discovered that magnetic domains in type-I superconducting lead exhibit patterns similar to everyday froths like soap foam or frothed milk. The team found that suprafroths, a new kind of froth system created by applying a magnetic field, adhere to statistical laws governing the behavior of froths.
Using a bioinspired approach, researchers mimicked magnetotactic bacteria to synthesize ferromagnetic nanoparticles with desirable magnetic properties. The team successfully produced cobalt-ferrite nanoparticles, which have more desirable magnetic properties than magnetite.
Researchers at Ames Laboratory and Microsoft Station Q studied nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond to understand decoherence, a process destroying quantum coherence. They discovered that environmental interference can be regulated by applying a moderate magnetic field, gaining insight into the decoherence process.
A team of researchers from Ames Laboratory has developed a novel add-drop filter using three-dimensional photonic crystals, which enables efficient sorting and distribution of multiple wavelength channels over optical fibers. The technology promises to enhance data transmission with near 100% efficiency.
Researchers have designed a high-performance permanent magnet alloy that operates with good magnetic strength at 200 degrees Celsius. The new alloy, which replaces pure neodymium with a mixed rare earth, has a lower temperature coefficient, making it suitable for electric drive motors in the automotive industry.
A team of Ames Laboratory scientists has offered a new model explaining the structure and function of proton exchange membranes in fuel cells. The model proposes a network of densely packed, parallel cylindrical water channels that help explain how water and protons diffuse through the membrane.
Researchers at the Midwest Forensics Resource Center are developing a library of forensic ink profiles using Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART) mass spectrometry. The new technique allows for faster and more detailed analysis of inks, enabling forensic scientists to differentiate between inks like never before.
Researchers at Ames Laboratory have observed two-dimensional equilibrium patterns in lead samples when in its superconducting state, below 7.2 Kelvin. These complex patterns differ from the long-held textbook model proposed by Lev Landau and represent a significant contribution to the field of superconductivity.
Researchers at the Ames Laboratory have discovered a new family of zinc compounds that can be tuned to exhibit physical properties similar to other materials. These compounds, which are over 85% zinc, display extraordinary tunability, allowing scientists to study magnetism and potentially create superconducting materials.
The team is developing materials with similar properties to palladium, but cheaper and more readily available, to improve the efficiency of hydrogen fuel cells. The goal is to find a substitute for platinum, which is currently used as a catalyst in PEMs containing platinum.
Researchers at Ames Laboratory have developed a novel composite material that combines tungsten and metallic glass to create an armor-piercing projectile. The nanostructured material exhibits self-sharpening behavior, making it a potential replacement for depleted uranium in kinetic energy penetrators.
Researchers at US DOE's Ames Laboratory have developed a material with a negative refractive index for visible light, marking a significant advance in the field of metamaterials. The silver-based mesh-like material has a refractive index of -0.6 at the red end of the visible spectrum.
The Ames Laboratory will collaborate with Iowa State University and Sandia National Laboratory to develop software that enables access to three of the world's most important computational chemistry codes. The project aims to accelerate scientific discovery in areas such as energy, climate change, and materials science.
Robert Angelici receives ACS Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Inorganic Chemistry, recognizing his significant service and outstanding research in inorganic chemistry. He has published over 370 papers and is known for pursuing unique research problems.
Brett Bode has been honored with a 2006 IBM Faculty Award for his work on developing management systems for petascale computing. He will collaborate with IBM to develop software for one of their high-end computing systems, focusing on fault-tolerant control systems.
Researchers at Ames Laboratory have successfully created metamaterials that can refract light at negative angles, potentially enabling the development of superlenses for medical imaging. This achievement demonstrates a new way to manipulate light's path and speed, moving closer to Einstein's theory of relativity.
Ames Laboratory researchers have created an AI-powered system that can detect secret files hidden in digital images using steganalysis. The system, utilizing artificial neural networks (ANNs), has been trained on a database of over 10,000 images and achieved high accuracy rates.
Scientists have engineered tiny silica particles to carry pharmaceuticals into cells using biocompatible materials and controlled release mechanisms. The mesoporous nanospheres can selectively target cancer cells by releasing drugs in response to specific chemicals, reducing side effects and increasing treatment efficacy.
The European Union's ban on lead in electronic appliances has led to the widespread adoption of Ames Laboratory's lead-free solder, which was patented in 1996. The solder blend of tin-silver-copper alloy offers a lower melting temperature and greater strength than other alternatives.
A team of researchers at Ames Laboratory is using $1.02 million in DOE funding to study the chemical processes within plant cells. By understanding metabolism, they aim to control the production of sugars, fibers, and waxes. The project involves developing new analytical instruments capable of identifying molecules in small quantities.
Researchers tested a long-held friction theory using a quasicrystalline material, finding that friction along the periodic surface was significantly higher than along the aperiodic axis. The study's findings have implications for understanding the relationship between a material's structure and its frictional properties.
Researchers at Ames Laboratory developed a method called dynamic multiple equilibrium gradients (DMEG) that enables hyperselective separation and concentration of specific analytes. This advancement allows for the detection of smallest substance traces, including estrogen-derived conjugates and DNA adducts in human fluid samples, poten...
Ames Laboratory researchers have fabricated PBG crystal microstructures in open air using a modified technique called microtransfer molding. The team's achievement enables the creation of multilayered photonic band gap crystals, a key step towards creating photonic crystals within a single computer chip.
Researchers at Ames Lab investigate solid fuels mimicking methane, ideal for hydrogen production and efficient energy storage. They use mechanochemical processing and nanostructuring to create recharged materials.
An-Pang Tsai wins inaugural Dubois Award for his remarkable string of discoveries of new quasicrystalline phases, including five main families. His work has had a profound impact on the science of quasicrystals, enabling the preparation of large samples and fundamental property measurements.
John Corbett, a renowned chemist, has been awarded the Spedding Award for his outstanding contributions to inorganic solid-state chemistry and strong metal-metal bonding. He is the third Ames Laboratory researcher to receive this honor.
Researchers at Ames Laboratory have developed a new thermal barrier coating technology that enhances engine operation in high-temperature environments. The new coating, which uses nickel-aluminum-platinum alloy samples, offers significant improvements in oxidation resistance and reduces the risk of failure in gas turbines.
Researchers at Ames Laboratory have successfully developed a new type of superconductor, carbon-doped magnesium diboride, which can withstand higher magnetic fields. The material has a critical temperature of 39 Kelvin, making it more economical to use compared to other superconductors.
Scientists develop pentablock polymers that form micelles in response to changes in temperature and pH, resembling how biomolecules react. These stable polymers could be used to deliver drugs or gene therapies, and have shown promise in preliminary studies.
Researchers at Ames Laboratory have identified 12 fully ordered, completely stoichiometric intermetallic compounds with remarkable ductility. These materials exhibit higher ASTM fracture toughness values comparable to commercial aircraft aluminum alloys.
Researchers from Ames Laboratory aim to create efficient and selective nanocatalysts using mesoporous materials with controlled nanopores. The goal is to improve the selectivity of current mesoporous materials, which often require costly separation techniques.
Tom Barton, Ames Laboratory director, has received the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) Award for his efforts to strengthen ties between federal labs and industry. The award recognizes his work in developing the Lab's technology transfer program, which has led to 136 U.S. patents and 14 start-up companies.
Researchers at Ames Laboratory are developing new solar cells that can withstand the degrading effects of sunlight. By understanding the atomic origins of this problem, they hope to create materials with improved stability and efficiency. The team's three-step rebonding model offers a promising solution to this challenge.
Researchers have developed microscale channels to guide neuron growth in damaged nerves, a breakthrough that shows promise for treating nerve injuries. The technique uses biodegradable polymer films with microscopic patterns to direct nerve cell growth, with initial results showing rats regaining use of their legs after injury.