Articles from Argonne National Laboratory

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory and the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), located in the republic of Korea, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Jan. 6 to collaborate on advancing research in silicon sensors that will help unlock secrets of the universe’s fundamental forces.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory is managing two microelectronics studies that will support multidisciplinary codesign of hardware and software and enable processing of vast quantities of data at unprecedented speeds. Argonne is a premier research institution in microelectronics, the tiny devices that power and control computers, smartphones, electric vehicles and other information processing equipment. It also leads the projects as part of DOE’s Microelectronics Science Research Centers.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded $50 million over the next five years to establish the Low-cost Earth-abundant Na-ion Storage (LENS) Consortium. Led by DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory, the consortium includes Brookhaven National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.

The Council on Competitiveness is hosting its latest “Competitiveness Conversation” Sept. 9th at Purdue University, highlighting how the Midwest is leading the world in three critical technologies: semiconductors, quantum science, and advanced bioscience. The event brings together leaders from business, academia, government, and national labs to explore ways to expand U.S. innovation capacity and global competitiveness.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the creation of two new Energy Innovation Hubs. One of the national hubs, the Energy Storage Research Alliance (ESRA), is led by DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory and co-led by DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL).

A new set of electron beam measurements puts the upgraded Advanced Photon Source (APS) at the top of the list of the world’s synchrotron X-ray research facilities.

From a city’s rush-hour commute to the operations of a cross-country transport fleet, a new tool from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory can paint a picture of how vehicles are using energy on a large scale.

Imagine being able not only to detect a fault in a complex system but also to receive a clear, understandable explanation of its cause. Just like having a seasoned expert by your side. This is the promise of combining a large language model (LLM) such as GPT-4 with advanced diagnostic tools.

From your car’s navigation display to the screen you are reading this on, luminescent polymers — a class of flexible materials that contain light-emitting molecules — are used in a variety of today’s electronics. Luminescent polymers stand out for their light-emitting capability, coupled with their remarkable flexibility and stretchability, showcasing vast potential across diverse fields of application.

On a bright day in July, a crowd of hundreds gathered at the site of the Advanced Photon Source (APS) in Lemont, Illinois to welcome even brighter days ahead.

After hours of cool-headed puzzling and problem-solving, Hunter Wittenborn, a student from the University of Alabama at Huntsville, emerged as champion of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) 2024 CyberForce® Conquer the Hill® — Reign Edition Competition. Hosted by DOE’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) and Argonne National Laboratory, Wittenborn competed with some of the brightest young minds studying cybersecurity to tackle a series of challenges in a video game style escape room.

Five new innovators will join Chain Reaction Innovations (CRI), the Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program (LEEP) at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, as part of the award-winning program’s eighth cohort.

A new era of science at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) is ready to begin. On June 17, 2024, the facility at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory delivered its first X-ray light beams to a scientific beamline as part of a comprehensive and complex upgrade.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory and University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on key areas of mutual interest related to green energy technology and the nexus of water and energy. In a ceremony held at UM6P’s campus in Benguerir, the MOU was signed by Argonne Laboratory Director Paul Kearns and UM6P President Hicham El Habti.

Researchers are diving into a synthetic universe to help us better understand the real one. Using the Theta supercomputer at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois, scientists have created nearly four million simulated images depicting the cosmos as NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile, jointly funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and DOE, will see it.

The National Charging Experience Consortium (ChargeX Consortium) brought together scientists, software developers, vehicle manufactures, other national laboratories and industry partners to address a priority for electric vehicle (EV) drivers: making sure the charging technology works.

As America's energy demand continues to grow, meeting the energy needs of the future requires maintaining existing infrastructure and integrating renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower, which are expected to supply 44% of U.S. power by 2050. Meanwhile, parts of the existing grid are old and starting to fail. But power companies may not know there is a problem with their equipment until it fails.

The Aurora supercomputer at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory has officially surpassed the exascale threshold, measuring over a quintillion calculations per second on the new Top500 list. The results were announced today at the ISC High Performance 2024 conference in Hamburg, Germany.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory has recently launched a collaboration with Toyota Motor North America that could reduce the nation’s reliance on foreign sources of battery materials.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory is developing a new process that could dramatically increase the number of electric vehicle (EV) batteries produced from mined nickel ore. The effort is part of a new partnership with Talon Metals, a U.S. mining company that plans to produce high-grade nickel ore domestically.

In the face of accelerating climate change, the U.S. aims to reduce the net carbon emissions of its economy to zero by 2050. Achieving this goal will require an unprecedented deployment of clean energy technologies. And a significant transformation of the nation’s energy infrastructure.

A new tool launched by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory enables drivers to estimate, at the ZIP code level, how much they save on fuel costs by driving a plug-in electric vehicle (either a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or a battery electric vehicle (BEV)).

The United States has a generational opportunity to build next-generation lithium-based batteries to power electric vehicles and support the grid. However, the U.S. must address significant supply chain challenges to create a thriving domestic battery industry.

While the world would love to have a quick fix, there is no one specific pathway to stop or slow the rate of climate change.

Leaders in high performance computing in the U.S. and Japan have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) establishing a cooperative relationship in support of artificial intelligence (AI) computing projects.

Deep learning is a form of artificial intelligence transforming society by teaching computers to process information using artificial neural networks that mimic the human brain. It is now used in facial recognition, self-driving cars and even in the playing of complex games like Go. In general, the success of deep learning has depended on using large datasets of labeled images for training purposes.

Using cutting-edge scientific research to realize a cleaner and more resilient Michigan economy is the aim of a newly formed partnership between the state and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory.

Climate scientists and nuclear science and engineering experts at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory are joining forces to develop a plan B for nuclear power in Richland, Washington.

Global sales of electric vehicles (EVs) increased from 716,000 vehicles in 2015 to 10.6 million vehicles in 2022. Meanwhile, demand rose for the materials used in EV batteries such as graphite, cobalt and lithium.

As the integrated circuits that power our electronic devices get more powerful, they are also getting smaller. This trend of microelectronics has only accelerated in recent years as scientists try to fit increasingly more semiconducting components on a chip.

Fighting traffic and searching for parking are some of the least enjoyable aspects of driving in a city. Some studies estimate that 25 to 40% of traffic congestion in city centers is caused by people looking for parking spots. Not only does the quest for parking waste time and fuel, it also causes delays for other drivers and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

Community leaders and administrators now have a more powerful tool for understanding their communities’ economic strengths and vulnerabilities, thanks to the newly enhanced National Economic Resilience Data Explorer (NERDE). The online data portal’s enhanced second edition makes it easier for users to create economic development plans, improve resilience, and apply for economic assistance and grants.

In an experiment akin to stop-motion photography, scientists have isolated the energetic movement of electrons while “freezing” the motion of the much heavier atoms it orbits in liquid water. The new technique involved opens up a whole new field of experimental physics and could benefit future studies of radiation-induced processes such as encountered in space travel, cancer treatments, nuclear reactors and legacy waste.

A recent study involving scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory has uncovered insights into the prostate cancer risks of people from a variety of genetic ancestries. The project, which was led by the University of Southern California, included large increases in representation among men of African, Hispanic and Asian ancestries, that were contributed in part by an ongoing collaboration between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and DOE.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory has named Raeanna Sharp-Geiger as chief operations officer. Sharp-Geiger begins her new role on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, leading Argonne’s operational strategy, excellence, modernization and innovation.

With global insect biodiversity in decline due to habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change, the restoration of insect habitat paired with smart land use changes toward renewable energy developments could help reverse the course.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, along with Idaho National Laboratory (INL), was chosen by the agency for a demonstration project to validate an innovative long-duration energy storage system developed by battery manufacturer CMBlu Energy. The collaborative project aims to improve microgrids in cold climates and make fast charging of electric vehicles more affordable in underserved communities.

Chain Reaction Innovations (CRI), the entrepreneurship program at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, has earned a 2023 Chicago Innovation Award.

Nuclear reactors produce about 20% of the total electricity used in the U.S. Of the country’s clean electricity, nuclear energy accounts for close to 50%. Exciting new research into advanced nuclear technologies is driving interest in nuclear energy as a central pillar of U.S. efforts to combat climate change and meet rising demand for electricity.

A global consortium of scientists from federal laboratories, research institutes, academia, and industry has formed to address the challenges of building large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) systems and advancing trustworthy and reliable AI for scientific discovery.

Chain Reaction Innovations (CRI), the Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program (LEEP) at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, is now accepting applications for its eighth cohort of innovators. Innovators with clean-energy and climate technologies are encouraged to apply.

At the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, nuclear experts are working with industry partners to develop tomorrow’s nuclear power plants. Their motivation: nuclear energy can drastically reduce U.S. dependence on greenhouse gas-emitting fossil fuels. This is important for the nation to meet its power needs without producing new carbon emissions.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory is one of over 70 partners that have banded together to launch a regional clean-hydrogen hub (H2Hubs) in the Midwest. The partnership, the Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2), has been awarded up to $1 billion in funding from the DOE to accelerate the production and use of clean hydrogen.

With increasingly warming temperatures during the summer months, urban cities like Chicago need to arm decision makers and communities with information about strategies to help keep their residents cool. One strategy involves something all buildings already have: a roof. Certain roofing materials can help cool the surrounding outside air and decrease the need for air conditioning (AC).

Steel has a major impact on everyone’s lives and our economy. It is crucial to cars, trucks, airplanes, buildings and more. However, there is a significant issue with its production process. Globally, it accounts for a large percentage of greenhouse gas emissions from the industrial sector.

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory have developed a new dataset that estimates increased inland flood risk from climate change during the mid-21st century. Their article about the dataset, published in the Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, looks specifically at a study of the Northeastern United States, but the dataset will soon be applied across the country and can be implemented in any global region.

New technologies such as solar power and grid energy storage are being rapidly deployed. To accommodate these and other technologies, utilities must run grids in completely new ways.

Four new innovators recently joined Chain Reaction Innovations (CRI), the Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program (LEEP) at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Argonne National Laboratory, as part of the program’s seventh cohort.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory has named Sean Jones as deputy laboratory director for science and technology. Jones will begin his new role on October 9, serving as Argonne’s senior science strategist, advisor, and chief research officer.

Alaska’s massive size and diverse landscape have created unique energy needs and challenges. Alaska is not connected to large interstate energy grids like most other states.

Through a new collaboration formed by a contract between the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory and J.D. Power, a company focused on data analytics and consumer insights, Argonne researchers will use J.D. Power’s EV IndexSM, to access new electric vehicle (EV) data sets. These data sets that will enable valuable insights into the rapidly growing market for EVs and an understanding of consumers’ experience with EV charging infrastructure (charging stations).

An ingredient in many toothpastes is sodium fluoride, a compound of fluorine. It is added to protect teeth against decay. But compounds containing fluorine have other practical uses that might surprise you. Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory have discovered a fluoride electrolyte that could protect a next generation battery against performance decline.

Innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) are rapidly shaping our world, from virtual assistants and chatbots to self-driving cars and automated manufacturing. Seizing on the potential of AI to transform science, the nation’s leading experts in science and technology have released a blueprint for the United States to accelerate progress by expanding its capabilities in AI and big data analysis.

A team led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory has developed a new catalyst composed of elements abundant in the Earth. It could make possible the low-cost and energy-efficient production of hydrogen for use in transportation and industrial applications. Clean hydrogen could not only propel vehicles with no emitted pollutants but also help decarbonize industrial processes.

Twenty startups will present their technologies for a clean energy future at this year's Lab-Embedded Entrepreneur Program (LEEP) Demo Day June 7 in Chicago. LEEP connects entrepreneurs with resources and innovation ecosystems at U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national labs.

Many owners of electric vehicles worry about how effective their battery will be in very cold weather. Now a new battery chemistry may have solved that problem.

As more electric vehicles (EVs) hit the road, charging stations are popping up across the United States. The benefits go beyond curbing carbon emissions from road travel. These systems can also link to the electric grid through smart charging, drawing power when overall demand is low and feeding it back to the grid when needed.

Quantum information technologies have the potential to transform our lives. Powerful quantum computers, ultraprecise quantum sensors, and tamperproof quantum communication networks could revolutionize areas as varied as medicine, energy and finance.

In traditional manufacturing, components are created out of larger blocks of source material (such as steels) and the unused excess materials or the machining scraps are thrown away or recycled. In 3D printing projects, spools of nylon-like threads or metal wires – or powdered metals – can be fused together, layer by layer, into usable components of almost any variation imaginable.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory announced the launch of the Battery Workforce Challenge, which includes a three-year collegiate engineering competition, focused on advanced battery design and development that will build a diverse, highly-skilled electric vehicle (EV) Battery Workforce to help our nation transition to electric mobility and clean energy.

Many owners of electric cars have wished for a battery pack that could power their vehicle for more than a thousand miles on a single charge. Researchers at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory have developed a lithium-air battery that could make that dream a reality. The team’s new battery design could also one day power domestic airplanes and long-haul trucks.

Li-Bridge, a public-private alliance representing the U.S. battery ecosystem, convened by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and managed by DOE's Argonne National Laboratory, released today an action plan to accelerate the creation of a robust domestic manufacturing base and comprehensive supply chain for lithium-based batteries.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory announced today that Robyn Wheeler Grange will serve as the first director of the lab’s Office of Community Engagement.

Research by the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR) has enabled spinoff company Blue Current to develop a safe, solid-state battery that is ready for megawatt-scale manufacturing. JCESR is an Energy Innovation Hub led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory. An arm of Koch Industries has invested $30 million in Blue Current to build its first pilot factory in Hayward, California. Blue Current’s target market is electric vehicles.

Globally recognized research and development leader Chris Heckle has been appointed as the first director of the Materials Manufacturing Innovation Center (MMIC) at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory.

Flexible, wearable electronics are making their way into everyday use, and their full potential is still to be realized. Soon, this technology could be used for precision medical sensors attached to the skin, designed to perform health-monitoring and diagnosis. It would be like having a high-tech medical center at your instant beck and call.

What’s the news? AT&T, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) today announced the launch of the Climate Risk and Resilience Portal (ClimRR), which advances access to cutting-edge science for climate projections to help improve America’s preparedness for future climate extremes.

Chain Reaction Innovations (CRI), the entrepreneurship program at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, is now accepting applications for its Cohort 7. Entrepreneurs with clean energy and climate technology innovations who can leverage Argonne’s resources are encouraged to apply.

Energy generation and use in the U.S. is undergoing a rapid transformation in response to concerns about climate change. Carbon-free energy sources, such as wind, solar and nuclear power, are being pursued to reduce carbon emissions and improve the resiliency of power generation under extreme weather events caused by a warming planet. In September 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory has launched a long-term agreement with Constellation to evaluate trends in the country’s energy system and develop technologies for more efficient, carbon-free power generation.

JPMorgan Chase, one of the most established financial institutions in the world and the largest bank in the United States, has become a member of the Q-NEXT quantum research center.

When is a book not a book?

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory have a long history of breakthrough discoveries with lithium-ion batteries. Many of these discoveries have focused on a battery cathode known as NMC, a nickel-manganese-cobalt oxide. Batteries with this cathode now power the Chevy Bolt.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory and a team of academic and community leaders $25 million over five years to study climate change effects at local and regional levels. This new research will empower communities to identify solutions that address future effects of climate change.

Nuclear power plants provide large amounts of electricity without releasing planet-warming pollution. But the expense of running these plants has made it difficult for them to stay open. If nuclear is to play a role in the U.S. clean energy economy, costs must come down. Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory are devising systems that could make nuclear energy more competitive using artificial intelligence.

Cutting a ceremonial yellow ribbon, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and Illinois leaders marked the completion of a new facility that will host experiments that will contribute to the future of electric vehicles, quantum computers and resilient materials for all kinds of uses.