Tackling Our Energy Challenges in a New Era of Science

Latest Announcements

A Pathway for Protons

(January 2013)

Moving four relatively large protons to where they are needed is easier if you build a path, as is being done by scientists at the Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis. The research team has built two iron-based compounds that help protons move from the exterior to where they are needed. Once delivered, the protons bond with molecular oxygen and create water. In previous compounds, the protons often don't arrive in time or go to the wrong place, which leads to forming the unwanted byproduct hydrogen peroxide. The new compounds direct the protons in ways that help separate the two oxygen atoms in O₂, and thereby drive the reaction to completion.

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DuBois Receives National Inorganic Chemistry Award

(August 2012)

Congratulations to Dr. Daniel DuBois at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory on receiving the American Chemical Society's Award in Inorganic Chemistry, a prestigious national honor. DuBois was chosen for his unique approach to designing inorganic molecular complexes to speed reactions. Instead of taking a hit-or-miss approach based on creating and testing endless variations to find the properties needed, he answered the fundamental questions, showing the scientific community "why" these materials behaved as they did, and how to use that knowledge to rationally develop improved catalysts.

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Chuck Peden and Morris Bullock Named American Chemical Society Fellows

(July 2012)

Congratulations to Dr. Chuck Peden and Dr. Morris Bullock at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory on being named American Chemical Society Fellows. Peden and Bullock are among distinguished researchers nationwide recognized in 2012 by the American Chemical Society, also known as ACS, for their "outstanding achievements in and contributions to science and the profession of chemistry."

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Morris Bullock Quoted in National Academy of Science Workshop Report

(July 2012)

Dr. Morris Bullock, Director the Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, was quoted in The Role of the Chemical Sciences in Finding Alternatives to Critical Resources: A Workshop Summary. Bullock spoke at the 2011 workshop on the need to develop catalysts based on earth-abundant metals, creating catalysts that can replace those based on noble metals. Bullock is quoted in the workshop report, which was published by the National Academy of Science through the Chemical Sciences Roundtable.

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Ionic Liquid Improves Speed and Efficiency of Hydrogen-Producing Catalyst

(June 2012)

The design of a nature-inspired material that can make energy-storing hydrogen gas has gone holistic. Usually, tweaking the design of this particular catalyst—a work in progress for cheaper, better fuel cells—results in either faster or more energy-efficient production but not both. Now, researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have found a condition that creates hydrogen faster without a loss in efficiency.