ANL researchers have performed high-throughput screening to identify multi-metallic combinations that can function effectively as nanoparticle catalysts for plastic waste upcycling processes.

Apparatus and methods of using lasers are provided for spalling and drilling holes into rocks. A rock removal process is provided that utilizes a combination of laser-induced thermal stress and laser induced superheated steam explosions just below the surface of the laser/rock interaction to spall the rock into small fragments that can then be easily removed by a purging flow. Single laser beams of given irradiance spall rock and create holes having diameter and depth approximately equal to the beam spot size. A group of the single laser beams are steered in a controllable manner by an electro-optic laser beam switch to locations on the surface of the rock, creating multiple overlapping spalled holes thereby removing a layer of rock of a desired diameter. Drilling of a deep hole is achieved by spalling consecutive layers with an intermittent feed motion of the laser head perpendicular to the rock surface.

Technology Overview & Benefits

Sodium-ion batteries are an emerging commercial alternative to lithium-ion batteries for stationary storage and transportation applications due to the greater abundance and lower cost of sodium as well as their performance advantages at low temperatures.

Applications and Industries

Electrodes for use in Sodium-ion batteries for:

• Stationary energy storage systems
• Electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles

Qubits are the basic units of quantum computers, analogous to transistors in classical computing platforms. There are a limited number of demonstrated qubit platforms, and each has challenges with coherence (ability to maintain quantum entanglement), speed, fidelity, and/or scalability (ability to fabricate and couple multiple units). However, this invention is a new type of qubit platform that could resolve the coherence challenge, which will potentially open up new unprecedented opportunities for quantum computing.

Time projection chambers are useful for high energy particle physics, nuclear physics, and astronomy. Argonne’s novel functional bilayer thin film coatings enhance particle detection efficiency and projection chamber performance.

Argonne’s enhanced electron amplifier structure includes a substrate that amplifies incident particle signal and a novel layer that enhances substrate sensitivity to the incident particle.

Alkaline earth metal fluorides have various optical applications due to their fascinating property of exhibiting high transparency, ranging from wavelengths in vacuum ultraviolet to the long infrared spectrum. Argonne’s novel method for depositing fluoride thin films uses very low temperatures and results in epitaxial growth.

An electron amplifier structure or an electron multiplier may be used as a component in a detector system to detect low levels of electrons, ions, or photons. Argonne’s novel method leads to enhanced electronic signal detection sensitivity.

At present, semiconductor microelectronic logic and memory devices use tungsten thin films as integrated device wirings and contact metallization. Argonne’s novel method improves metal layer adhesion and nucleation, enhancing the metal grain growth and increasing electrical conductivity.

Argonne’s ALD fabrication process allows for large area (e.g., eight inches by eight inches) electron amplifier devices to be produced at reduced costs compared to current fabrication processes. The Argonne ALD fabrication process allows for nanostructure functional coatings to impart a desired electrical conductivity and electron emissivity onto low cost borosilicate glass micro-capillary arrays to form the electron amplifier devices.