News

Neutron scattering studies of lattice excitations in a fresnoite crystal revealed a way to speed thermal conduction. Image credit: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy; graphic artist Jill Hemman

Supersonic waves may help electronics beat the heat

May 17, 2018

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory made the first observations of waves of atomic rearrangements, known as phasons, propagating supersonically through a vibrating crystal lattice—a discovery that may dramatically improv

From left, ORNL’s Rick Lowden, Chris Bryan and Jim Kiggans were troubled that target discs of a material needed to produce Mo-99 using an accelerator could deform after irradiation and get stuck in their holder.

Made in the USA: Department of Energy labs help advance technology to ensure supply of key medical isotopes

May 14, 2018

“Made in the USA.” That can now be said of the radioactive isotope molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), last made in the United States in the late 1980s.

Neutron interactions revealed the orthorhombic structure of the hybrid perovskite stabilized by the strong hydrogen bonds between the nitrogen substituent of the methylammonium cations and the bromides on the corner-linked PbBr6 octahedra.

Neutrons provide insights into increased performance for hybrid perovskite solar cells

April 23, 2018

Neutron scattering has revealed, in real time, the fundamental mechanisms behind the conversion of sunlight into energy in hybrid perovskite materials.

Fossil energy—Neutrons run deep

January 3, 2018

To improve models for drilling, hydraulic fracturing and underground storage of carbon dioxide, Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientists used neutrons to understand how water flows through fractured rock.

Neutrons—Exotic particles

January 3, 2018

A novel approach for studying magnetic behavior in a material called alpha-ruthenium trichloride may have implications for quantum computing.

An Oak Ridge National Laboratory-led research team used a sophisticated X-ray scattering technique to visualize and quantify the movement of water molecules in space and time, which provides new insights that may open pathways for liquid-based electronics

New study visualizes motion of water molecules, promises new wave of electronic devices

December 22, 2017

A novel approach to studying the viscosity of water has revealed new insights about the behavior of water molecules and may open pathways for liquid-based electronics.

Water is seen as small red and white molecules on large nanodiamond spheres. The colored tRNA can be seen on the nanodiamond surface. Image by Michael Mattheson, OLCF, ORNL

Diamonds that deliver

February 24, 2017

It’s not enough to design new drugs. For drugs to be effective, they have to be delivered safely and intact to affected areas of the body. And drug delivery, much like drug design, is an immensely complex task.

Haslam visits ORNL to highlight state’s role in discovering tennessine

January 27, 2017

Tennessee Gov.

'Tennessine' acknowledges state institutions' roles in element's discovery

November 30, 2016

The recently discovered element 117 has been officially named "tennessine" in recognition of Tennessee’s contributions to its discovery, including the efforts of the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory and its Tennessee collaborators at Va

ORNL’s Michael Manley led a study to discover the key to the success of modern materials used in ultrasound machines and other piezoelectric devices.

Study yields new knowledge about materials for ultrasound and other applications

September 16, 2016

The lighter wand for your gas BBQ, a submarine’s sonar device and the ultrasound machine at your doctor’s office all rely on piezoelectric materials, which turn mechanical stress into electrical energy, and vice versa.

Materials