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Designing Selective Membranes for Batteries Using a Drug Discovery Toolbox

Researchers designed a polymer membrane with molecular cages built into its pores that hold positively charged ions from a lithium salt. These “solvation cages” increased lithium-ion flow by an order of magnitude and could allow high-voltage battery cells to operate at higher power and more efficiently, important for both electric vehicles and aircraft. Read more »

X-Ray Experiments, Machine Learning Could Trim Years Off Battery R&D

Scanning transmission x-ray microscopy at the ALS’s COSMIC beamline contributed to a battery study that used an innovative approach to machine learning to speed up the learning curve about a process that shortens the life of fast-charging lithium batteries. It represents the first time this brand of “scientific machine learning” was applied to battery cycling. Read more »

March 2021 Message from the UEC

As the ALS plans for the safe return of staff and users to the Berkeley Lab site, the Users’ Executive Committee is here to help the user community navigate the unknowns. The UEC also encourages users to attend the “Science enabled by ALS-U” seminar series; the next talk is Friday, April 2. Read more »

Winter 2021 Shutdown Recap

During the Winter 2021 shutdown, the ALS was a hive of activity, though social distancing requirements during the pandemic meant that the activity looked a bit different from years past. We began commissioning on March 26 and plan to return to user operations after commissioning concludes. Read more »

Clency Easterling, Senior Material Specialist

Even before joining the ALS in 2015, Clency was impressed by the scientific mission of the facility. Although his work takes him all over the ALS, he is interested in one particular type of research—find out what has captured his attention. Read more »

March 2021 Awards and Honors for ALS Users

Ane Etxebarria wins Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship, and DOE recognizes Marca Doeff and Johanna Nelson Weker for their significant contributions to energy storage research. Congratulations to these members of the ALS community on their achievements! Read more »

Coral Skeleton Reveals Hidden Structures under Multimodal Scrutiny

A powerful new microscope combining ptychography with x-ray linear dichroism provides nanoscale insight into the biomineral strength and resilience of a coral skeleton. The technique’s previously unachievable spatial resolution and contrast will open up new lines of research for users of x-ray microscopy at the ALS. Read more »

Study Shines New Light on Li-Battery Cathode Materials

Researchers clarified key reaction mechanisms in a Li-battery cathode material, revealing its surprising utility as a catalyst for next-gen batteries. The work refutes widely held ideas about reversible reactions in a highly debated material for Li-based batteries and expands the range of materials suitable for use in high-power batteries and fuel cells. Read more »PPT-icon-35 PDF-icon-35

Skyrmion Creation and Annihilation Made Simple

Researchers developed a simple approach to writing and deleting skyrmions on demand, using heat and magnetic fields generated by an electrical current, by-products normally considered problematic. The ubiquitous character of these effects, coupled with simplicity of design, offers much-needed scalability and broad applicability. Read more »