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New Manganese Materials Bolster Cathode Capacity

The most expensive component of a battery, the cathode, requires rare transition metals like cobalt. Previous attempts to replace cobalt with inexpensive and non-toxic manganese delivered insufficient performance. Now, researchers have optimized the composition of high-energy-density, high-capacity manganese-based cathodes. Read more »

2018 Shutdown Recap

Users have returned to the ALS after a six-week summer shutdown. Among the many small and large changes, we performed a major upgrade of the HVAC system that will stabilize the temperature throughout the experimental hall. None of the changes will affect the delivery of light. Read more »

Structure Reveals Mechanism Behind Periodic Paralysis

X-ray crystallography of a membrane protein provided a structural understanding of how a single mutation can result in periodic muscle paralysis. The results suggest possible drug designs that could provide relief to patients with a genetic disorder that causes them to be overcome suddenly with profound muscle weakness. Read more »PPT-icon-35 PDF-icon-35

Oxygen Vacancies Matter in the LaNiO3 Metal–Insulator Transition

Electronic structure measurements using x-ray absorption spectroscopy suggest that oxygen vacancies contribute to the metal–insulator transition in ultrathin films of LaNiO3. The results give scientists another “knob” to turn to tune this important transition, which could be useful for making advanced electronic devices. Read more »

Infrared Beams Show Cell Types in a Different Light

By shining highly focused infrared light on living cells, scientists hope to unmask individual cell identities and to diagnose whether the cells are diseased or healthy. Their focus is on developing a rapid, noninvasive way to easily identify cell types and features within living cells, to aid in biological and medical research. Read more »

Graphene-Based Catalyst Improves Peroxide Production

Scientists characterized a graphene-based electrocatalyst that potentially makes the production of hydrogen peroxide more selective, efficient, and cost effective. Hydrogen peroxide is an important commodity chemical with growing demand in many areas, including the electronics industry, wastewater treatment, and paper recycling. Read more »PPT-icon-35 PDF-icon-35

Jeff Neaton, Energy Sciences Associate Laboratory Director

Jeff Neaton is the Energy Sciences Associate Laboratory Director. He joined Berkeley Lab as a postdoc at the Molecular Foundry in 2003 before becoming a staff scientist. While maintaining his research program, he has also taken on many leadership responsibilities at the Lab. Read more »

Sarah Tolbert to Chair ALS General Sciences Proposal Study Panel

The General Sciences Proposal Study Panel (PSP) oversees the evaluation of General User and Approved Program proposals for the general sciences, meeting twice yearly. Beginning October 1, 2018, Sarah Tolbert (UCLA) will serve as chair, taking over from long-time chair Peter Johnson (Brookhaven). Read more »

Registration Opens Next Week for the 2018 ALS User Meeting: October 2–4

This year’s user meeting features an exciting new format designed especially with students and early career scientists in mind. In addition to the always-popular science workshops, the UEC is pleased to announce more tutorials geared towards introducing new and seasoned users to various techniques, tools, and instrumentation. We will also celebrate the ALS’s 25th anniversary with retrospective talks about how the ALS was built and how our science has evolved over time. Read more »

Join the ALS Live on Facebook on Friday, July 27

A Berkeley Lab livestream event will take you inside the ALS on Friday, July 27, from 1:30-2:00 pm PT. The event is geared toward all ages, so tell your favorite young scientists to tune in at https://facebook.com/BerkeleyLab/. Sol Omolayo will show how vacuums keep the ALS running, and Monika Blum and Ethan Crumlin will explain the work at their beamline.