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If hydrogen fuel cells are ever to replace gasoline engines in cars, they will need a cheap source of high-purity hydrogen -- and Argonne technology could provide one.
A team led by Balu Balachandran (ET) has developed a ceramic membrane that can extract hydrogen from methane, the chief component of natural gas. The United States has abundant natural gas resources, but until now the process of obtaining hydrogen from natural gas has been difficult.
"Ceramic membranes make possible the widespread use of hydrogen," Balachandran said. "Just as conventional cars need gas stations, fuel cells will need an infrastructure to support them. Ceramic membranes could eliminate the need for costly refineries -- they are small enough and efficient enough to have one at every gas station."
The membranes are made of a composite of iron, oxygen, cobalt and strontium. The material is so dense that only electrons and individual ions can pass through it, which is why membranes can produce such pure hydrogen.
According to Balachan-dran, the membranes could also provide an economical source of other chemicals necessary for synthetic fuels and fertilizer.
Ceramic membranes could be a key development in DOE's "Vision 21" program, which seeks to develop highly efficient power technologies that discharge no pollutants.
Though the technology is still in its infancy, Balachandran is pleased with ceramic membranes' prospects.
"We have proven that this can work in principle,"
he said. "But we need to meet several engineering challenges to
develop ceramic membranes for the marketplace. If we can meet those
challenges, we could see this technology on the market within five to six
years."
-- Chad Boutin
Women's contributions to Argonne research are now highlighted in a new online photo collection that spans more than 50 years of laboratory history.
Starting in 1946 with Leona Marshall, the CP-1 experiment's only woman scientist, the collection includes such laboratory luminaries as Nobel Laureate Maria Geoppart Mayer and Hoylande Young, Argonne's first woman division director. Dozens more images show Argonne women at work through five decades of research.
"This collection of photographs is a tribute to the contributions of women to Argonne's achievements and represents the diversity of women's roles," said Margaret Butler (OTD-LEG), who was one of Argonne's first female technical employees. She was hired in 1948 as a junior mathematician in the naval reactor program and went on to help develop some of Argonne's earliest computers. Butler is now a special-term appointee, assisting the Legal Department with software copyrighting.
Butler started the photo collection in 1996 for the laboratory's 50th birthday. With Carol Herzenberg (DIS) and Jane Andrew (IPD), Butler culled the best images from files at the Information and Publishing Division and elsewhere around Argonne.
Butler supplied the photos and captions to IPD's Mary Ann Forys, who designed the Web site. Jim Corsolini (IPD) also produced a looping video version for use at scientific and educational events. Both efforts were supported by Deputy Laboratory Director Beverly Hartline.
The Web site will continue to grow as more photos are located and created. It is accessible only from laboratory computers.
Participants are needed for the annual Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee, sponsored by the DuPage County Chapter of Literacy Volunteers of America.
The bee will be held Saturday, April 20, at Avery Coonley School in Downers Grove. For more information or to sign up, contact Pat Canaday (OPA) at ext. 2-5562 or patcanaday @anl.gov by Monday, March 25.
Come to Argonne's Spring Fling party at the Building 213 Cafeteria. The party will run from 4:30 until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 21.
The party will feature a DJ and door prizes; food and adult beverages will be available. Cover is $3. Non-ANL employees are welcome but must be badged by the VRC prior to 4PM. Vehicles will be subject to search.
The party is sponsored by Argonne Club and Sodexho. For more information, send e-mail to argonneclub@anl.gov.
Former Chemistry Division Director Winston Manning, whose career included the co-discovery of two elements, died March 3 at the age of 92.
Services were held March 14 in Urbana.
Manning joined the Metallurgical Laboratory, the secret project to build the first nuclear reactor, in 1943. He was named head of Argonne's Chemistry Division in 1946, a position he held for 19 years. He later served as associate laboratory director and was acting laboratory director in 1967.
Among his many achievements, Manning co-discovered einsteinium and fermium, two of the transuranic elements (elements heavier than uranium).
He authored numerous journal articles, was a fellow of the American Nuclear Society and chaired the American Chemical Society's division of inorganic chemistry.
In addition to his professional interests, Manning also enjoyed traveling, hiking, photography and classical music.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Urbana Park District Nature/Environmental Programs, the Nature Conservancy or the Sierra Club.
Invitations to a luncheon honoring Argonne-West employees with 20 years of service are on their way.
The luncheon will be held Thursday, March 28, in the Laboratory & Office Conference Room.
A dinner for Argonne-East employees with 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 years of service was held Friday, March 15, in the Building 213 Cafeteria.
A dinner for Argonne-West employees with 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 years of service will be held Friday, May 3, at the Shilo Inn in Idaho Falls.
Applications are now being accepted for the 2002 University of Chicago Executive MBA Program. This year Argonne management will select one employee to participate in this high-caliber program offered through the university's Graduate School of Business.
For an application, call Human Resources at ext. 2-3410. The deadline for returning applications to Human Resources is Friday, April 12.
This program is designed for middle and upper-level managers who are expected to retain full job responsibilities while attending classes in advanced studies in management every other Friday and Saturday beginning in July. The entire program spans 20 months.
Call Charlyne Robinson (HR) at ext. 2-3410 for more information about the program.
Argonne-East will host an international workshop on "Nanocomposites: Materials, Neutrons and Data Interpretation" March 28-30.
The workshop goal is to identify the key nanostruc-tured systems and their materials properties, experimental parameters, and data-interpretation schemes for neutron-scattering research.
A report of the workshop will be prepared and distributed to the nanoscience and technology community and research organizations.
More information is available online.
A Social Security representative will visit Human Resources at Argonne-East Wednesday, April 17, from 8 a.m. to noon. He will be available to assist with:
Enrolling in social
security
Filing applications for
new or replacement social security cards
Problems with earnings
postings
General questions
related to social security
To schedule a meeting, call Fran Perri (HR) at ext. 2-2989.
Retired Argonne senior scientist John Ferraro has been recognized by the Chemical Heritage Foundation for envisioning a museum dedicated to landmark scientific instrumentation.
The museum, the first of its kind in the United States, has been completed in Philadelphia and will feature instruments that date back to 1940.
Office computer software will be the subject of several classes offered at Argonne-East during April by Electronics and Computing Technologies.
Classes will be held in Argonne-East's Building 201, Room 167. Unless otherwise specified, they are limited to 10 participants and cost $215. Complete class descriptions, prerequisite information and schedules are available online.
For information about enrollment procedures, call Diane Cavazos (ECT) at ext. 2-7153 or send e-mail to dkcavazos@anl.gov.
Introduction to Word
2000 (ECT369) -- Monday, April 1, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Introduction to Excel
2000 (ECT370) -- Tuesday, April 2, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Introduction to Access
2000 (ECT371) -- Wednesday, April 3, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Class size
limited to 8.
Introduction to
PowerPoint 2000 (ECT372) -- Thursday, April 4, 8:30 a.m. - noon. Cost:
$140.
Intermediate PowerPoint
2000 (ECT373) -- Thursday, April 4, 1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Cost: $140.