The Physical Sciences Division (PSD) stewards a broad research portfolio encompassing basic and applied chemistry, catalysis, materials science, geosciences, and chemical physics. Our research strives to refine our molecular-level understanding of complex, multiphase systems, and phenomena. We discover and apply new knowledge to address major national priorities and needs in energy sustainability and decarbonization through the development of new energy storage technologies and the creation of high-value fuels and materials from abundant wastes. A major facility was dedicated in the fall of 2021 at PNNL, the Energy Sciences Center, as an important resource where PSD’s fundamental scientists and applied researchers meet and collaborate to accelerate advances in energy technology, facilitating a more rapid transition to energy sustainability.
PSD scientists work in close partnership with sponsors in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Basic Energy Science program, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office, Bioenergy Technologies Office, and the Vehicle Technologies Office, to advance the U.S. Department of Energy's mission priorities. The division is organized into five research groups:
Catalysis Science
Catalysis is a particular strength of PNNL, where researchers are taking advantage of the Laboratory's historical emphasis on chemistry and chemical engineering. The Institute for Integrated Catalysis explores and develops the chemistry and technology of catalyzed processes that are key to securing energy independence and transitioning towards solely using recycled and renewable carbon and other renewable energy resources. Our catalysis programs range from fundamental science to process development, with ongoing concentrations in catalysis synthesis, characterization, and theory and simulation.
Chemical Physics and Analysis
The Chemical Physics and Analysis group seeks to understand the underlying chemical physics of complex processes relevant to energy production and use, environmental remediation, waste management, and national security. Our approach is to develop advanced experimental and theoretical tools to make highly quantitative measurements of the molecular-level processes that lend themselves to rigorous and accurate theoretical modeling and simulation. The goal is to provide predictive models that lead to a mechanistic understanding of complex processes.
Materials Sciences
The Materials Sciences group aims to develop predictive understanding and establish control of synthesis pathways of materials relevant to energy capture, conversion, and storage, as well as materials systems pertinent to quantum information technologies. Our approach combines a broad range of synthesis techniques, in situ and ex situ microscopic and spectroscopic characterization, tomography, computational modeling, and data analytics. This research provides insight into complex relationships between materials building blocks, synthesis conditions, and the resulting structure, properties, and functions, and underpins the development of novel energy, computing, and communications technologies.
Geochemistry
The Geochemistry group endeavors to understand the reactions at complex mineral and fluid interfaces in geochemical and environmental systems at the Earth’s near-surface domain. Our approaches span molecular to mesoscale regimes, often by integrating laboratory-based experiments, multi-modal characterization, and theory and computational simulation. Impacts from new knowledge about key reaction mechanisms and rates include improved models for predicting water quality and sustainability, safe and efficient energy and mineral resource extraction, nutrient availability, contaminant fate and transport, and storage of carbon and energy wastes in the subsurface.
Long-duration energy storage gets the spotlight in a new Energy Storage Research Alliance featuring PNNL innovations, like a molecular digital twin and advanced instrumentation.
New funding spurs a new approach to researching the effective retrieval and processing of legacy radioactive waste. Four-year focus of the IDREAM EFRC will link attosecond timescales to decades-long chemical processes.
Thin oxide films play an important role in electronics and energy storage. Researchers in PNNL’s film growth laboratory create, explore, and improve new thin oxide films.
PNNL scientists carve a path to profit from carbon capture by creating a system that efficiently captures CO2 and converts it into one of the world’s most widely used chemicals: methanol.
Tiffany Kaspar’s work has advanced the discovery and understanding of oxide materials, helping develop electronics, quantum computing, and energy production. She strives to communicate her science to the public.
Morris Bullock has led PNNL's pursuit of the efficient conversion of electrical energy and chemical bonds through control of electron and proton transfers.
In adjoining Energy Sciences Center laboratories, researchers develop better energy storage devices by understanding the fundamental reactions that form interfaces.
Johannes Lercher, Battelle Fellow and director of the PNNL Institute for Integrated Catalysis, envisions energy storage solutions at the new Energy Sciences Center.
The Physical Sciences Division stewards a broad research portfolio encompassing basic and applied chemistry, catalysis, materials science, geosciences, and chemical physics.
