As an important step toward overcoming the technical and environmental limitations of current REE processing methods, the LLNL team has patented and demonstrated a biobased, all-aqueous REE extraction and separation scheme using the REE-selective lanmodulin protein. Lanmodulin can be fixed onto porous support materials using thiol-maleimide chemistry, which can enable tandem REE purification…
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![Novel Protein-based Method for REE Separation](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_exact_400x400_/public/2024-06/Novel%20Protein-based%20Method%20for%20REE%20Separation.png?itok=It5_LQAz)
![Examples of different UV exposure patterns printed from the same multi-material resin. Darker yellow regions have higher UV exposure times leading to tougher regions.](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_exact_400x400_/public/2024-01/UV%20exposure%20patterns.jpg?itok=gxDjP8_E)
LLNL researchers have developed an innovative and uniform single-pot polymer multi-material system, based on a combination of 3 different reactive chemistries. By combining the three different constituent monomers, fine control of mechanical attributes, such as elastic modulus, can be achieved by adjusting the dosage of UV light throughout the additive manufacturing process. This results in…
![Top down view of a Gas phase synthesized graphene (GSG) UV curable polymer composite film.](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_exact_400x400_/public/2024-01/GSG%20UV%20curable%20polymer%20composite%20film.jpg?itok=9K-LMcLo)
LLNL researchers have developed a method to incorporate gas phase synthesized graphene (GSG) as a unique additive in a UV-crosslinkable polymer formulation. The GSG is added by using a planetary mixer to obtain a homogenous suspension of GSG in polymer. The resulting formulation is highly stable and doesn't show signs of phase separation or solid sedimentation. The polymer formulation is then…
![SEM image of tantalum airbridges](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_exact_400x400_/public/2023-12/SEM%20image%20of%20tantalum%20airbridges.png?itok=ZSZvL90K)
LLNL researchers developed a novel method to nucleate the alpha phase of Tantalum on a polymer surface at room temperature, allowing for the controllable formation of a variety of 3D structures, such as airbridges. Using this method with a subsequent Piranha etch results in the complete removal of the residues of the polymer 'scaffolding' or template while allowing the deposited tantalum…
![Powder in Chemical Watch Glass](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_exact_400x400_/public/2023-12/gray%20powder.jpeg?itok=u_5ZtG7H)
LLNL researchers have developed a Li-Sn-Zn ternary alloy and its method of production. Instead of traditional alloying techniques, the alloy was synthesized using mechanical alloying (high energy ball milling). With high purity elemental powders of lithium, tin and zinc, LLNL researchers were able to prepare Li60Sn20Zn20 as well as Li70Sn20Zn10 nanopowders.
![Scanning electron microscopy image of carbonized resorcinol-formaldehyde formulation.](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_exact_400x400_/public/2023-07/SEM%20image%20of%20carbonized%20resorcinol-formaldehyde%20formulation.png?itok=46D5k1qt)
LLNL inventors have created innovative steps in the synthesis, carbonation and activation steps of aerogel manufacturing that allows for large scale production. These steps are:
1. Synthesis: a novel pre-cure step with subsequent gelation (RF precursor solution is heated with stirring to achieve a mixed liquid intermediate temperature, the precursor solution is then allowed to cool,…
![Livermore researchers support efforts to limit the need for rare-earth elements in U.S. clean-energy technologies.](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_exact_400x400_/public/2023-07/Reducing%20Reliance%20on%20Critical%20Materials.png?itok=IuC6bH4r)
CMI—a DOE Energy Innovation Hub—is a public/private partnership led by the Ames Laboratory that brings together the best and brightest research minds from universities, national laboratories (including LLNL), and the private sector to find innovative technology solutions to make better use of materials critical to the success of clean energy technologies as well as develop resilient and secure…
![A sample of micro-architectured graphene aerogel, made from one of the lightest materials on Earth, sits atop a flower.](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_exact_400x400_/public/2023-06/micro-architectured%20graphene%20aerogel.jpg?itok=t56kL59Q)
To overcome challenges that existing techniques for creating 3DGs face, LLNL researchers have developed a method that uses a light-based 3D printing process to rapidly create 3DG lattices of essentially any desired structure with graphene strut microstructure having pore sizes on the order of 10 nm. This flexible technique enables printing 3D micro-architected graphene objects with complex,…
![cyber](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_exact_400x400_/public/2023-07/cyber.png?itok=69VZRw3q)
CSP-POST provides the capability to inspect all incoming and outgoing emails while providing after-the-fact forensic capabilities. Using commercially available lightweight and serverless technologies, CSP-POST easily collects all email and parses it into easily searchable metadata, enriched and ready for analysis. The web-based application is deployed in a repeatable, testable, and auditable…
![A system to cryptographically distinguish between human-generated text vs. AI-generated text](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_exact_400x400_/public/2023-06/certify%20data%20generated%20likely%20by%20human.png?itok=LbgHf3iX)
LLNL has invented a new system that uses public key cryptography to differentiate between human-generated text and AI-generated text. This invention can be used to validate that text is likely to be human generated for the purposes of sorting or gatekeeping on the internet, can detect cheating on essay assignments, and can be used as an automatic captcha that does away with the hassle of…
![Biosorption-based REE recovery and Sc extraction from low-grade feedstocks.](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_exact_400x400_/public/2023-06/Biosorption-based%20Sc%20separation.png?itok=nULPXLYl)
The novel technology developed at LLNL is a new, effective means of separating and concentrating Sc from lanthanides and non-REEs in unconventional, waste-derived feedstocks, thereby transforming an essentially valueless solution into valuable Sc concentrates. The results represent an important advance in the development of an environmentally sustainable alternative to organic solvent-based…
![natural protein lanmodulin, LanM (blue) bound to three REE ions (cyan).](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_exact_400x400_/public/2023-05/LanMwithREEions.png?itok=UcejC0kj)
LLNL researchers along with collaborators at Pennsylvania State University have found that a newly discovered natural protein named Lanmodulin (LanM) could be a potential candidate for extracting REEs from ore or other sources such as coal ash as well as purifying the REE material. Through joint research, the scientists found that LanM undergoes a large conformational change in response to…
![IPO logo over a face profile with interconnected lines](/sites/default/files/2020-11/IPO_logo_placeholder.jpg)
LLNL researchers have developed a custom formulated extreme low viscosity reactive silicone resin base modified with a temperature dependent thixotrope along with a modified catalyst package. The uncatalyzed composition is capable of accepting loadings of polymer microspheres sufficient to produce a cured bulk rubber that has a density as low as 0.3 g/cc, thus compatible with high-resolution…
![permanent_magnets.png permanent_magnets](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_exact_400x400_/public/2019-08/permanent_magnets.png?itok=WkORcUn0)
LLNL uses the additive manufacturing technique known as Electrophoretic Deposition to shape the source particle material into a finished magnet geometry. The source particle material is dispersed in a liquid so that the particles can move freely. Electric fields in the shape of the finished product then draw the particles to the desired location to form a “green body”, much like an unfired…
![freeze_casting_porous_materials](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_exact_400x400_/public/2022-06/freeze_casting_porous_materials.png?itok=2twOT_K3)
The LLNL method is based on freeze‐casting of aerosolized and pressurized metal salt solutions and subsequent thermal processing. This method generates both porous particles with sizes down to one micron and macroscopic monoliths with nanometer scale ligaments/struts. The material's density can be controlled during the freeze‐dried stage. Compared to conventional approaches, this method…
![Encrypting computer clusters](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_exact_400x400_/public/2022-06/hpcrypt.png?itok=VHVxx51a)
LLNL has developed a new method for securely processing protected data on HPC systems with minimal impact on the existing HPC operations and execution environment. It can be used with no alterations to traditional HPC operations and can be managed locally. It is fully compatible with traditional (unencrypted) processing and can run other jobs, unencrypted or not, on the cluster simultaneously…
![CNT Carbon Nanotube yarns support spherical](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_exact_400x400_/public/2022-06/CNT%20yarns%20support%20spherical.jpg?itok=ndieUaDs)
LLNL has developed a liquid-free method that increases the overall mechanical resistance of self-supported, carbon nanotube assemblies through nanoscale reinforcement by gas-phase deposition of a thermally cross-linkable polymer. Polymer-reinforcement increases the strength of CNT yarns after crosslinking. For example, a minimal amount (<200 nm) of poly-glycidyl metacrylate (PGMA) deposited…
![Bio-Based Shape Memory Polymer](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_exact_400x400_/public/2022-06/Bio-Based%20Shape%20Memory%20Polymer.png?itok=LD-aph8l)
LLNL researchers have developed a novel method of 3D printing regular microstructured architectures and subsequent complex macrostructures from additively manufactured bio-based composite thermoset shape memory polymer composite materials. This technology for 3D additively manufactured parts utilizes up to a 4 axis control DIW system for fabricating bio based thermally cured epoxy based SMP…
![composite_material](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_exact_400x400_/public/2022-06/composite_material1.jpg?itok=fS_as8eL)
LLNL researchers have developed the hardware and chemistry to allow additive manufacturing of short carbon fibers in a thermoset polymer matrix which have a high degree of structural alignment over conventional cast or pressed short/chopped carbon fiber polymer composites.
The invention is based on the shear dispersal, alignment and concentration of fiber fraction within a resin…
![Cell phone 2](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_exact_400x400_/public/2022-07/Cell%20phone%202.png?itok=k7L7xXwx)
LLNL's NeMS system enables network mapping operations by using two LLNL-developed software systems: LLNL's NeMS tool and the Everest visualization system. Each software system can be also used separately for their specific applications. When the two systems are used together as an iterative analysis platform, LLNL's NeMS system provides network security managers and information technology…
![metallic_nanospheres.jpg metallic_nanospheres](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_exact_400x400_/public/2019-08/metallic_nanospheres.jpg?itok=-j4nK6vi)
The nanosphere synthesis process works when a nanostructured substrate is heated above a critical temperature in the presence of a small amount of metal on the nanostructured surface. The metal acts as a particular type of catalyst for nanowire formation. It is periodically segregated within the nanowire in a thermodynamically well-defined process as nanowires grow. The result is…
![plants Lattice](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_exact_400x400_/public/2022-06/plantsLattice2_875x500px.jpg?itok=3ArsXjAU)
Redox ion-exchange polymers ("redox-ionites") and membranes possessing cation- and anion- exchange, amphoteric, complex-forming and oxidation-reduction abilities have been developed on the basis of the biocompatible synthetic and chemically modified natural polymers. In addition, developments have been made towards methods of obtaining of water-soluble and spatially cross-linked ionites of…