Chemical Sciences Research Area
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is a leader in chemical sciences. We focus on attaining a molecular-level understanding of complex multi-phase systems and phenomena that is critically important to our clients' needs. Our expertise includes fundamental research in
- Condensed phase and interfacial chemical physics
- Computational chemistry
- Geochemistry and biogeochemistry
- Separations, detection, and analysis
- Catalysis.
We succeed because of our teams. Our teams develop novel approaches as well as utilize routine routes to synthesize molecular, nanostructured, and solid-state systems; analyze the samples with multiple instruments; and model the results for detailed insight and to predict new systems for synthesis and analysis. Within the national lab, our teams form around the disciplines needed to solve the problem, regardless of where the people are in the organization structure. This allows us to bring different scientific perspectives for our clients. We also bring in collaborators from academia, other national labs, and industry.
Our experimental and theoretical analysis draws upon nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, a variety of microscopy techniques such as transmission electron microscopy, computation tools such as the NWChem for high-performance computational chemistry as well as supercomputers, and other tools. When the tools do not exist, we create them. For example, we have built unique probes for real-time NMR studies of catalysts under operating conditions, single-particle laser ablation mass spectrometers for analysis of aerosol particles, and the nanospray desorption electrospray ionization instrument for highly sensitive analysis of minute samples. Many of these tools are available for others to use through EMSL.
The U.S. Department of Energy is our chief client. We conduct work for DOE's Office of Science and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Related Highlights
- Zizwe Chase Wins Oral Presentation Award at WSU's Wiley Exposition
- Synthetic Molecule First Electricity-Making Catalyst to Use Iron to Split Hydrogen Gas
- Julia Laskin Named Wiley Research Fellow
- Johannes Lercher Honored with 2013 Tanabe Prize for Catalysis
- Lanthanum Chromium Oxide's Energetic Dance with Light
- Adding Natural Elements to Synthetic Catalysts Speeds Hydrogen Production
- Proton Delivery and Removal Can Speed or Distract Common Catalyst
- Seeing a Common Catalyst with New Eyes
- Catalysis Research Star of New Newsletter, Video
- An Unexpected Pairing of Frustrated Molecules
- Yuehe Lin Elected to American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering's College of Fellows
- A Pathway for Protons
- Soft Landing and Particle Coverage Key to Keeping or Losing Charge on Surfaces
- Liem Dang Named Adjunct Professor at University of Utah
- Wayne Hess Named American Physical Society Fellow
- The Complexities of a Simple Molecule
- Nigel Browning Named AAAS Fellow
- Pollution Hitches Ride to Arctic
- Rewriting the Rules on Electron Affinity and Other Electrochemical Properties
- Nano-DESI Takes Active Approach to Understanding Complexity
- PNNL Research Featured on Cover of DOE's Basic Research Needs Report
- Praveen Thallapally Served as Guest Editor of Catalysis Today
- Searching for Molecular Radical's Secrets of Stability
- 2012 Fundamental & Computational Sciences Accomplishments Report Now Available
- Creating an Iron Understudy
- Moving Mountains: Electrons Hop through Iron Oxide Minerals in a Type of Semiconduction
- The Path a Proton Takes
- Listening to Life
- Iron Center and Pendant Nitrogen Needed to Achieve Catalyst's Goal
- Ionic Liquid Improves Speed and Efficiency of Hydrogen-Producing Catalyst
- Watching Molecules in Slow Motion
- Seeing All the Angles
- Liem Dang's Article Showing Unified Molecular Picture Graces Journal's Cover
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Forms Institute for Interfacial Catalysis, Names Director