Researchers at the U.S. Department
of Energy's (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have won six R+D
100 Awards for innovative technologies in areas ranging from national security
to the advanced materials industry.
"This is yet the latest example of how the Department of Energy and our
national laboratories are continuing to demonstrate world-class leadership in
innovation, as we enhance our energy security, national security, and economic
competiveness," said U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman. "On
behalf of the department, I would like to congratulate all of our employees
who have earned R&D 100 awards and in particular this year's winners."
R&D Magazine issues the awards in recognition of the year's most significant
technological innovations. This year's awards were announced Monday, June 30.
"This is an impressive example of the diversity and depth of the laboratory's
research talent," said ORNL Director Thom Mason. "These awards demonstrate
our ability to translate breakthroughs in fundamental science into applications
that address important technological challenges."
This year's awards bring ORNL to a total of 140 since the awards' inception
45 years ago. ORNL has won more R&D 100 awards than any other DOE laboratory
and is second only to General Electric.
Researchers from ORNL received recognition for the following inventions:
(1) Adaptive band excitation controller and software for scanning probe microscopy,
invented and submitted jointly by Stephen Jesse and Sergei Kalinin of DOE's
Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences at ORNL and Roger Proksch of Asylum
Research Corp.
The adaptive band excitation controller and software opens a new range of scanning
probe microscopy techniques by performing more rapid probing of energy dissipation
than has previously been possible. These techniques are used by researchers
for functional imaging and manipulation on an extremely minute scale—down
to the nanometer and atomic scale. This technology enables scientists to characterize
a sample's electrical, magnetic, and mechanical energy conversion and dissipation
properties at the nanoscale at standard imaging rates.
Research was sponsored by the DOE's Office of Basic Energy Sciences and Division
of Materials Sciences and Engineering.
(2) Cratos V Nano-Wool, developed and submitted jointly by Roland Seals of
Babcock & Wilcox Technical Services Y-12 and Paul Menchhofer, Vinod Sikka
and Fred Montgomery of the Materials Science and Technology Division.
Cratos V is a new process for producing high-purity carbon nanotubes quickly
and at a fraction of the typical cost. The resulting high-strength lightweight
Nano-Wool may be used to reinforce cutting tools, grinding wheels and metal
composites, or to produce new polymers that conduct electricity. The introduction
of the Cratos V technology decreases production cost, making nanotubes significantly
less expensive than other sources. The advance is due to the development of
a new high-productivity catalyst in combination with a simplified process that
yields very pure nanotubes.
Funding for the project came from Y-12's Plant Directed Research and Development
program.
(3) Laser-induced fluorescence composite heat damage detector, developed and
submitted jointly by Chris Janke and Cliff Eberle of the Materials Science and
Technology Division, Curt Maxey and John Storey of the Energy & Transportation
Science Division, Art Clemons of the National Security Directorate, and Walt
Fisher, Eric Wachter and Josh Fisher of Galt Technologies.
The heat damage detector provides rapid and accurate heat damage assessments
of fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites found in military and commercial
aircraft. Composites have a high strength-to-weight ratio, increasing aircraft
fuel efficiency without a compromise in safety. However, they are vulnerable
to heat damage, which can cause significant degradation in the materials' properties.
The detector is the first of its kind that does not require destruction of the
sample under inspection, reducing the cost of identifying and repairing heat-damaged
composites ten-fold. The system is also lightweight and portable.
Work on the detector was sponsored by the Office of Naval Research.
(4) NanoSH Superhydrophobic Technology, developed and submitted jointly by
John Simpson, Brian D'Urso and Steve McNeany of the Measurement Science and
Systems Engineering Division, Vinod Sikka of the Materials Science and Technology
Division, and Donald Speicher and Andrew Jones of Ross Technology Corp.
NanoSH makes surfaces completely water repellant by forming a microscopic air
gap between the treated surface and water. This nanotechnology has a range of
applications, from reducing the energy needed to propel waterborne vessels or
to pump water through pipes by decreasing friction to protecting metals and
alloys from corrosion. Unlike most hydrophobic films, the NanoSH coating is
easy and inexpensive to make.
NanoSH was funded by ORNL's Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program.
(5) SpaciMS: Spatially Resolved Capillary Inlet Mass Spectrometer, developed
and submitted jointly by William Partridge Jr., Jae-Soon Choi, John Storey and
Sam Lewis of the Energy & Transportation Science Division, Neal Currier
and Aleksey Yezerets of Cummins, Alexandre Goguet and Christopher Hardacre of
CenTACat, Queen's University Belfast, David Lundie, Terry Whitmore and Adrian
Jessop of Hiden Analytical, and Gerald DeVault and Robert Smithwick III of the
Y-12 National Security Complex.
SpaciMS takes samples inside the confined spaces of reactors like automotive
catalysts, fuel reformers or fuel cells, measuring changes in chemical composition
in both space and time within the reactors. Sampling within the reactor during
operation gives greater understanding of reactor and catalytic chemistry than
has previously been possible by measuring reactor exhaust alone. This technology
was used in the optimization of the groundbreaking 2007 Dodge Ram heavy-duty
pickup truck, which met 2010 emissions control standards three years ahead of
schedule.
Funding for the development of SpaciMS was provided by ORNL's Laboratory Directed
Research and Development Program and DOE's Office of Heavy Vehicle Technology
and Office of FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies.
(6) 2-MGEM, Optical Anisotropy Factor Measurement System, developed and submitted
jointly by Doug Mark, Baoliang "Bob" Wang, Andy Breninger, Tarik Hadid,
Chad Mansfield, Bob Lakanen and Abebe Gezahegn of Hinds Instruments and Gerald
Jellison, John Hunn and Christopher Rouleau of the Materials Science and Technology
Division.
The 2-MGEM microscope is used to characterize light polarization properties
of a sample more accurately and reliably than previous techniques. Application
of the technology is for characterization and quality control of the coated
particle fuel that will be used in the next generation of cleaner, more efficient
nuclear power reactors, which are believed to be one of the best near-term solutions
to the world's increasing energy needs. Additional applications could include
the characterization of other crystals, carbon compounds and thin-film coatings.
Funding for this project was provided by sources including the DOE's Advanced
Gas Reactor Fuel Development and Qualification Program.