Advanced Energy-Efficient Materials
ORNL scientists conduct R&D on sustainability aspects of advanced energy-efficient materials, with studies ranging from fundamental research to the latest applications on virtually all classes of materials. ORNL's strengths in materials synthesis, processing, and characterization are applied to all areas of emphasis.
Much more information about the research on advanced energy-efficient materials conducted at ORNL can be found on the web sites for the following ORNL organizations:
Physical Sciences Directorate
The Physical Sciences Directorate includes a number of divisions and programs that conduct research on advanced energy-efficient materials. The Chemical Sciences Division is a leader in chemical research and its application to issues of scientific and technological importance to DOE, the nation, and industry. The Physics Division is primarily concerned with studies of the fundamental properties of matter at the atomic, nuclear, and subnuclear level and in the development of experimental devices in support of these studies. The Materials Science and Technology Division and the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, described below, are also in the Physical Sciences Directorate.
Materials Science and Technology
The Materials Science and Technology Division conducts fundamental and applied materials research for basic energy sciences programs and a variety of energy technologies, including energy efficiency, renewable energy, transportation, conservation, fossil energy, fusion energy, nuclear power, and space exploration.
Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences
The Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences is a collaborative user research facility for the synthesis; characterization; theory, modeling, and simulation; and design of nanoscale materials.
High Temperature Materials Laboratory
The High Temperature Materials Laboratory is a DOE user facility dedicated to solving materials problems that limit the efficiency and reliability of systems for power generation and energy conversion, distribution, and use.
Transportation Program
The Transportation Program comprises R&D primarily for DOE's FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies Programs. Major research areas are fuels and engines, advanced structural and propulsion system materials, power electronics and electric motors, and policy analysis.
Catalysis - Center for Basic and Applied Research
With state-of-the-science facilities and instrumentation available on site, ORNL addresses all aspects of catalysis research from very fundamental studies to specific applications. The focus has been on all aspects of heterogeneous catalysis including design and synthesis of novel catalysts, fundamental surface science, automotive emission catalysts, theoretical modeling, and characterization.
M-Plus User Program
The Metals Processing Laboratory Users (MPLUS) activity was an officially designated user facility at ORNL for DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Industrial Technologies Program, Industrial Materials for the Future. The MPLUS efforts were typically high risk feasibility R&D activities that helped the development and implementation of new and emerging technologies. |