News

ORNL technique could set new course for extracting uranium from seawater

December 17, 2015

An ultra-high-resolution technique used for the first time to study polymer fibers that trap uranium in seawater may cause researchers to rethink the best methods to harvest this potential fuel for nuclear reactors. The work of a team led by Carter Abney,

ORNL’s Nancy Dudney (center) and former lab researchers Jane Howe and Chengdu Liang were among the developers of lithium-sulfur materials that have been licensed to Solid Power for use in next-generation batteries.

ORNL, Solid Power sign exclusive license for lithium-sulfur battery tech

November 20, 2015

The Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Solid Power Inc. of Louisville, Colo., have signed an exclusive agreement licensing lithium-sulfur materials for next-generation batteries.

In complex alloys, chemical disorder results from a greater variety of elements than found in traditional alloys. Traces here indicate electronic states in a complex alloy; smeared traces reduced electrical and thermal conductivity. Image credit: Oak Ridg

Chemical complexity promises improved structural alloys for next-gen nuclear energy

October 30, 2015

Designing alloys to withstand extreme environments is a fundamental challenge for materials scientists.

Redistribution of electronic clouds causes a lattice instability and freezes the flow of heat in highly efficient tin selenide. The crystal lattice adopts a distorted state in which the chemical bonds are stretched into an accordion-like configuration, an

‘Molecular accordion’ drives thermoelectric behavior in promising material

October 19, 2015

Engines, laptops and power plants generate waste heat. Thermoelectric materials, which convert temperature gradients to electricity and vice versa, can recover some of that heat and improve energy efficiency.

An ORNL-University of Rome study has delivered direct evidence of high-temperature superconductivity at the interface of two insulating oxide materials. Electron microscopy at ORNL showed that superconductivity arises from oxygen ions (circled in white) t

ORNL microscopy finds evidence of high-temperature superconductivity in single layer

September 30, 2015

Electron microscopy at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory is pointing researchers closer to the development of ultra-thin materials that transfer electrons with no resistance at relatively high temperatures. The study delivers direct

The “Big, Deep and Smart Data Analytics in Materials Imaging” workshop

Eyes on the Prize

August 11, 2015

In the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages, the state of the art of materials science defined technology’s zenith and accelerated economies.

Critical Materials Institute rare-earth recycling invention licensed to U.S Rare Earths

August 10, 2015

A new technology developed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Critical Materials Institute that aids in the recycling, recovery and extraction of rare earth minerals has been licensed to U.S. Rare Earths, Inc.

Supercomputing – Turbocharging materials research

August 3, 2015

Lightweight powertrain materials could play a hefty role in helping automakers meet stricter Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s supercomputer could accelerate their deployment.

Developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers, CIRFT bends and vibrates used nuclear fuel rod segments to test the impact of normal traveling conditions—before the fuel rods ever leave the premises.

Rigors of the road: ORNL invention will support licensing and transport of spent nuclear fuel

July 28, 2015

Moving rods of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) to interim storage or a geologic repository requires road or rail travel.

ORNL researchers Dudney, Love, Radford named Corporate Fellows

July 2, 2015

Nancy J. Dudney, Lonnie J. Love and David C. Radford have been named Corporate Fellows at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Materials