I want to thank LBNL management for their vote of confidence in asking me to lead the ALS through a time of transition and renewal, and also many in the ALS community who sent their congratulations and support. I very much look forward to working with the entire community and our DOE program managers to continue the ALS tradition of excellence. Read more »
ALSNews Vol. 395
June 27, 2018
The Electronic Structure of a “Kagome” Material
Scientists have verified exotic electronic properties predicted to emerge in a ferromagnetic material with “kagome” (trihexagonal) lattice symmetry. The greater understanding of kagome materials afforded by this work helps open up a new path toward goals such as ultralow-power electronic devices and quantum computing. Read more »
Molecular Anvils Trigger Chemical Reactions
“Molecular anvils” (diamondoids) were used to trigger chemical reactions using pressure, yielding products that differ from those produced in conventionally driven reactions with the same reactants. The discovery opens up new possibilities for the high-specificity synthesis of valuable but challenging molecules in an environmentally friendly process. Read more »
New Clues to Oxygen’s Role in Higher-Capacity Batteries
As battery electrodes, layered transition-metal (TM) oxides demonstrate storage capacities far beyond what’s explained solely by TM redox activity. In this work, measurements of the lattice oxygen redox activity in two lithium-rich layered oxides showed strong oxygen redox when manganese was the TM, but not with ruthenium. Read more »
3D Localization of Nanoscale Battery Reactions
A new tool lets researchers pinpoint the locations of chemical reactions happening inside batteries in three dimensions at the nanoscale level. Combining ptychography, tomography, and spectroscopy, Nanosurveyor 1 is a multidimensional tool providing novel insight into the design of next-generation batteries and devices. Read more »
Beamline Scientist Ethan Crumlin Receives DOE Early Career Award
Ethan Crumlin is one of six Berkeley Lab scientists selected by DOE’s Office of Science to receive Early Career Research Program awards. Crumlin’s award, for “Discovering the Mechanisms and Properties of Electrochemical Reactions at Solid/Liquid Interfaces,” will combine operando spectroscopy and microscopy techniques, modeling, and computation to gain insight into interactions between electrodes and electrolytes. Read more »
ALS Bids Farewell to Division Deputy Zahid Hussain
In an event aptly titled “Zahid Fest,” ALS staff held a scientific symposium and celebration honoring the career of long-time Scientific Support Group Deputy Zahid Hussain and wishing him well in retirement. The day-long event featured scientific and biographical talks from a star-studded cast of researchers who have collaborated with Hussain over the years as well as a round of individual acknowledgements. Read more »
Daniela Leitner, ALS-U Removal and Installation Lead
Daniela Leitner first came to Berkeley Lab more than 20 years ago and has worked on a variety of research and operations projects in multiple divisions. Most recently, she joined the team of the ALS Upgrade project (ALS-U) as the lead for removal and installation. Read more »
2018 ALS User Meeting Award Nominations Due July 13
The ALS Users’ Executive Committee invites nominations from everyone – including students, postdocs, PIs, and staff – for the 2018 ALS User Meeting Awards. Consider preparing a nomination for a deserving colleague or group of individuals for one of the three awards. In addition to the award plaque, there will be a cash prize associated with each award. Read more »
ALS Doctoral Fellowship Applications Due June 30
ALS Doctoral Fellowships in Residence allow early-career researchers to spend a year at the ALS working at the frontier of synchrotron radiation research and helping advance state-of-the-art techniques and applications. Applications will be accepted from June 1–June 30. Read more »