Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have found a way to assemble photovoltaic polymers in water using a surfactant, enabling the creation of defect-free polymer assemblies for fast electric charge transport. This breakthrough creates molecular building blocks for designing optoelectronic and sensory materials.
Researchers at ORNL have created flexible polymer carbon composite films as electrodes for supercapacitors, achieving high power and energy density. The technology can consume up to 50 tons of scrap tires daily, providing relief from the expected 1.5 billion discarded tires by 2035.
Researchers have successfully trapped single atoms or molecules using a laser light in a doughnut-shaped metal cage. This breakthrough could lead to the development of advanced storage devices, computers, and high-resolution instruments. The technique uses scanning probe microscopy techniques to access individual nano-traps.
Researchers have developed a new mixed oxide catalyst that overcomes inhibition issues, allowing for more efficient engines to meet stricter emission regulations. The unique formulation of copper oxide, cobalt oxide, and cerium oxide enables better oxidation activity at low temperatures without precious metals.
A team of researchers is using advanced computational models to better understand multiphase flows in porous media. They aim to improve carbon sequestration, mitigate climate change, and optimize energy extraction. By analyzing data from experiments and simulations, the team is developing a multiscale framework to model complex systems.
A system developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory can identify and characterize solid or liquid samples in seconds, providing a valuable tool for material science, forensics, pharmaceuticals, biology, and chemistry. The device is self-cleaning, requires no sample preparation, and is cost-effective.
Researchers have engineered a microbe called Clostridium thermocellum to produce up to 6 grams of isobutanol per liter, a significant improvement over previous results. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient biofuels production and overcome the challenges of recalcitrance in plant biomass.
The Hybrid Photonic Mode-Synthesizing Atomic Force Microscope combines nanospectroscopy and nanomechanical microscopy, allowing for rapid non-invasive exploration of materials' surface and subsurface. Researchers can study synthetic and biological samples with high resolution and spectroscopic capabilities.
Scientists have developed a method to produce arrays of semiconductor junctions within a single, nanometer-thick crystal using pulsed laser deposition and commercial electron-beam lithography techniques. This breakthrough enables the creation of ultrathin electronics with tunable bandgaps for various applications.
Researchers have confirmed plutonium's magnetism using neutron scattering, resolving a scientific mystery that had gone unsolved for seven decades. The discovery provides insight into plutonium's unique electronic properties and suggests new avenues for materials science applications.
Scientists are searching for exotic mesons that don't fit traditional patterns, which could reveal new insights into QCD. The JLab team uses the Titan Supercomputer to analyze interactions between quarks and gluons in a vacuum, aiming to predict these hypothetical particles from first principles.
Scientists have developed a method to manipulate complex oxide materials using only helium ions, enabling single-axis control over their behavior. This technique allows researchers to tune material properties with precision, advancing the understanding and use of these unique materials.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory developed segmented, screw-like spikes to improve material bonding in industrial coatings and 3-D printing. The new structure, mimicking marine sponge spines, offers a stronger internal structure lasting longer than previous approaches.
A new mass spectrometry-based technology enables rapid analysis of tissue samples, offering a faster and more accurate alternative to traditional methods. The automated droplet-based surface sampling probe reduces testing time for cancer diagnosis from 20-30 minutes to just 4-5 minutes.
Researchers at Mascoma and BESC have developed a revolutionary strain of yeast that can efficiently convert biomass sugars into fuel, setting a new standard for biofuel production. The microbe achieves 97% conversion of xylose and glucose in less than 48 hours, significantly increasing ethanol yield.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a superhydrophobic glass coating that can be customized to repel water, fog, and dirt, while also suppressing light reflection from glass surfaces. The coating has potential applications in solar panels, lenses, optical instruments, and other products.
Researchers at ORNL have developed a technique that uses quantum correlated beams of light to overcome the fundamental detection limit of microcantilever-based sensors. This results in a 60% error reduction, enabling higher contrast imaging and detection of lower concentrations of particles.
A team of researchers from ORNL has successfully demonstrated an energy-efficient desalination technology using a porous graphene membrane. The new method, which uses a one-atom thick graphene sheet with pores as small as 0.5 nanometers, can purify water at an order of magnitude higher rate than traditional methods.
Researchers have created a new basis for streamlined and more efficient energy technologies by discovering graphene's ability to serve as a proton-selective permeable membrane. This breakthrough could facilitate improvements in fuel cell production, transportation, and use, addressing key issues like size and efficiency.
Researchers have successfully imaged the formation and growth of lithium dendrites, which can cause battery degradation. The team's microscopy technique allows for real-time analysis and precise measurements of electrochemical performance.
Scientists have discovered a way to control friction on ionic surfaces at the nanoscale by applying electrical stimulation and ambient water vapor. This new method allows for both increasing and decreasing friction, offering significant technological implications for energy research and device applications.
The ORNL model provides unprecedented county-level predictions of future US population growth, with implications for urban planning and climate change adaptation. The study finds that counties in California and Arizona are projected to experience high levels of sprawl growth by 2030 and 2050.
Researchers at ORNL used atomic force microscopy to fabricate nanoscale patterns in polymerized ionic liquids, exhibiting unique properties and potential applications in lithium batteries, transistors, and solar cells. The study showcases the technique's promise for alternative nanofabrication methods.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory quantify thermodynamic forces driving metal-insulator transition in vanadium dioxide, finding phonons and atomic vibrations control phase stability. The discovery has implications for multifunctional materials, including colossal magnetoresistors, superconductors, and ferroelectrics.
Researchers have made the first direct observations of a one-dimensional boundary separating two different, atom-thin materials. This experiment provides the first experimental validation of theoretical interface properties.
Scientists have developed a thermomagnetic processing method that controls the orientation of molecules in liquid crystalline epoxy resins. This leads to highly aligned structures with near-zero coefficient of thermal expansion, potentially enabling new structural designs and functional composites.
Researchers have discovered a highly stable cubic garnet material called LLZO that can enable the development of higher-energy battery designs. The material remains structurally stable over time across neutral and extremely alkaline environments, making it an ideal separator material for lithium-ion batteries.
The Urban Dynamics Institute at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is applying Big Data analysis to improve polio vaccination efforts in developing countries, particularly in Nigeria. The institute will help estimate vaccine needed and target areas of priority, saving time and money.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have demonstrated a novel additive manufacturing method that controls the microstructure of metal components with unprecedented precision. This innovation holds significant potential for engineering, design, and energy-efficient transportation applications.
ORNL researchers directly observed single dopant atoms moving inside a bulk material for the first time, contradicting theoretical predictions. The study provides unprecedented insight into the properties and lifespan of new materials, particularly in energy-saving LED lights.
Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have created a more efficient anode for lithium-ion batteries using recycled tire-derived carbon black, with improved capacity and stability. The novel method could lead to cheaper, environmentally friendly batteries for various applications.
ORNL scientists uncover clues to role of magnetism in iron-based superconductors, finding localized magnetism correlated with high critical temperature and influencing material performance. The study provides experimental evidence that local magnetic fluctuations can influence the behavior of iron-based superconductors.
Researchers at ORNL used microscopy and data processing to study the surface of a perovskite manganite, revealing a Jahn-Teller distortion caused by oxygen atoms. This finding could improve our understanding of sensitive applications like solid fuel cells and oxygen sensors.
A study at Oak Ridge National Laboratory reveals structural differences between normal and diseased forms of the huntingtin protein, which is involved in Huntington's disease. The researchers used neutron scattering to compare the structures over time, finding key discrepancies that support a growing focus on amyloid disorders.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a method to create air-stable water droplet networks that can simulate cell membranes. The technique, which uses a superhydrophobic surface infused with oil, enables the formation of interconnected water droplets without coalescing.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have discovered clues for inducing superconductivity in an iron-based material. By altering the Fermi surface, they were able to explain why certain structural phases prevent superconductivity at low temperatures.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory developed a new battery design that incorporates an electrolyte with dual functions. This cooperative chemistry increases capacity and extends lifespan, enabling longer-lived disposable batteries for medical devices and other applications.
Researchers have discovered that chlorine atoms replace tellurium atoms within grain boundaries, creating local electric fields that boost photovoltaic performance. This finding could guide engineering of higher-efficiency CdTe solar cells.
A recent study by the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory found that using a rooftop cargo box can decrease fuel economy by up to 9% and driving with all four windows down can lower it by 4-8.5%. The study tested various configurations, including underinflated tires and towing a trailer.
Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a new microscopy method to image and measure electrochemical processes in batteries in real time. This technique allows them to capture an unprecedented view of the solid electrolyte interphase, a nanometer-scale film that forms on a battery's negative electrode.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory created a framework to understand the interplay of superconductivity and inhomogeneity. The work reveals that strong superconductivity comes from highly doped regions in the crystal where dopants are clustered, potentially leading to higher performance superconductors.
The study pioneers a new approach to forming a 2-D, single-atom sheet of two different materials with a seamless boundary. By rethinking traditional methods, researchers combined graphene and boron nitride into a single layer only one atom thick.
ORNL researchers used supercomputers to simulate a molecular switch in a receptor that controls cell behavior, revealing its role in signaling processes. The discovery has significant implications for understanding cellular functions and developing new treatments for diseases.
Researchers at ORNL developed a method to control the diameter of silica rods during growth by manipulating temperature. This allows for precise control over segment size, enabling advances in fields like anti-reflective solar cells and computer monitors.
Researchers at ORNL led by Sergei Kalinin discovered complex and unpredictable patterns on ferroelectric material's surface when written in dense arrays. The study suggests the possibility of memcomputing, where information storage and processing occur on the same physical platform.
A study at Oak Ridge National Laboratory used neutron scattering and supercomputing to demystify the forces behind pretreatment processes in biofuel production. The research revealed unexpected findings about water molecules trapped between cellulose fibers, which can either dehydrate or separate into different phases when heated.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed new technologies to improve tiny engines, analyze vast amounts of information, and boost hybrid electric vehicles. Transient doping has been successfully achieved using only electrons, while a new inverter design reduces battery losses and improves efficiency.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory developed a technique to examine pore sizes in nanoporous carbons, revealing higher local structural order than previously believed. This discovery allows for more efficient gas extraction from shale deposits and potential carbon dioxide sequestration technologies.
Researchers have created an oxygen sponge that can easily absorb or shed oxygen atoms at low temperatures, making it useful in devices such as rechargeable batteries and fuel cells. This discovery could lead to more efficient energy storage and sensor technologies.
Researchers at ORNL introduced small amounts of non-superconducting material to control nanoscale columns, resulting in optimized superconducting performance. The wires achieved record-breaking engineering critical current density, exceeding twice the required level for most applications.