Filter News
Area of Research
- (-) Materials (28)
- (-) Nuclear Science and Technology (5)
- Advanced Manufacturing (1)
- Biology and Environment (16)
- Clean Energy (55)
- Computational Engineering (2)
- Computer Science (5)
- Electricity and Smart Grid (1)
- Energy Sciences (1)
- Fusion and Fission (8)
- Fusion Energy (6)
- Isotopes (1)
- Materials for Computing (3)
- Mathematics (1)
- National Security (6)
- Neutron Science (4)
- Quantum information Science (1)
- Sensors and Controls (1)
- Supercomputing (5)
News Type
News Topics
- (-) Chemical Sciences (6)
- (-) Clean Water (1)
- (-) Coronavirus (1)
- (-) Energy Storage (8)
- (-) Fusion (5)
- (-) Molten Salt (4)
- (-) Physics (9)
- 3-D Printing/Advanced Manufacturing (6)
- Advanced Reactors (6)
- Bioenergy (2)
- Biomedical (3)
- Buildings (1)
- Composites (4)
- Computer Science (1)
- Critical Materials (5)
- Decarbonization (1)
- Environment (2)
- Isotopes (3)
- Materials (15)
- Materials Science (25)
- Microscopy (9)
- Nanotechnology (12)
- Neutron Science (8)
- Nuclear Energy (18)
- Polymers (8)
- Quantum Computing (2)
- Quantum Science (1)
- Space Exploration (3)
- Sustainable Energy (3)
- Transportation (6)
Media Contacts
![Caption: Jaswinder Sharma makes battery coin cells with a lightweight current collector made of thin layers of aligned carbon fibers in a polymer with carbon nanotubes. Credit: Genevieve Martin/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2024-01/sharma1_1.jpg?h=f7dae89e&itok=JiSsMewF)
Electric vehicles can drive longer distances if their lithium-ion batteries deliver more energy in a lighter package. A prime weight-loss candidate is the current collector, a component that often adds 10% to the weight of a battery cell without contributing energy.
![ORNL researchers have developed a new pressing method, shown as blue circle on right, that produces a more uniform solid electrolyte than the traditionally processed material with more voids, shown as gray circle on left. The material can be integrated into a battery system, center, for improved stability and rate performance. Credit: Andy Sproles/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2023-06/Electrolyte.StoryTip_0.png?h=b6717701&itok=PIYcf5iS)
ORNL scientists found that a small tweak created big performance improvements in a type of solid-state battery, a technology considered vital to broader electric vehicle adoption.
![Xiao-Ying Yu](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2023-04/2023-P04601.jpg?h=8f9cfe54&itok=fw5q1UBj)
Xiao-Ying Yu, a distinguished scientist in the Materials Science and Technology Division of the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has recently been chosen for several prominent editorial roles.
![Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory discovered a tug-of-war strategy to enhance chemical separations needed to recover critical materials. Credit: Alex Ivanov/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2023-04/lanthanide.png?h=41c68e13&itok=KvT1ZLJo)
ORNL scientists combined two ligands, or metal-binding molecules, to target light and heavy lanthanides simultaneously for exceptionally efficient separation.
![Andrew Ullman, Distinguished Staff Fellow at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, is using chemistry to devise a better battery](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2023-04/2021-p11900.jpg?h=83468474&itok=EBMfr0Sn)
Andrew Ullman, Distinguished Staff Fellow at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, is using chemistry to devise a better battery
![Andrea Delgado, Distinguished Staff Fellow at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, uses quantum computing to help elucidate the fundamental particles of the universe. Credit: Carlos Jones/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2023-04/Andrea%20Delgado%20Thumbnail.png?h=c6980913&itok=PSWgGpfa)
Andrea Delgado is looking for elementary particles that seem so abstract, there appears to be no obvious short-term benefit to her research.
![Benjamin Manard](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2023-03/2021-P08330%5B11%5D_0.jpg?h=8f9cfe54&itok=x99Uqpen)
Benjamin Manard has been named to the editorial board of Applied Spectroscopy Practica, serving as an associate editor.
![Researchers observe T-shaped cluster drives lanthanide separation system during liquid-liquid extraction. Credit: Alex Ivanov/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2023-02/image_1.png?h=b69e0e0e&itok=1tyDrWMw)
Researchers at ORNL zoomed in on molecules designed to recover critical materials via liquid-liquid extraction — a method used by industry to separate chemically similar elements.
![Researchers captured atomic-level insights on the rare-earth mineral monazite to inform future design of flotation collector molecules, illustrated above, that can aid in the recovery of critical materials. Credit: Chad Malone/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2023-01/float.jpg?h=60f9f39d&itok=i2CRqyBK)
Critical Materials Institute researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Arizona State University studied the mineral monazite, an important source of rare-earth elements, to enhance methods of recovering critical materials for energy, defense and manufacturing applications.
![This diagram demonstrates how a concentrating solar thermal plant could use molten salts to store solar energy that could later be used to generate electricity. Credit: Jaimee Janiga/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy](/sites/default/files/styles/list_page_thumbnail/public/2022-09/2022-G02085_Mcfarlane_ReducingSaltsCorrosiveEffect_STFIG_7nj_ForReview_Equipment%20v2_txt_0.jpg?h=995a696e&itok=bT3iWSgL)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientists recently demonstrated a low-temperature, safe route to purifying molten chloride salts that minimizes their ability to corrode metals. This method could make the salts useful for storing energy generated from the sun’s heat.