2011 News & Highlights

Batteries get a quick charge with new anode technology

November 2, 2011 -- A breakthrough in components for next-generation batteries could come from special materials that transform their structure to perform better over time. Read the story.

Forecasting the fallout from natural disasters

October 31, 2011 -- When Hurricane Irene barreled up the East Coast this August, forecasters had a pretty good idea of the track the storm would take, along with its expected wind, rain and storm surge. Read the story.

Argonne’s Mitch Farmer receives Secretary’s Achievement Honor Award

October 28, 2011 -- Argonne nuclear engineer Mitch Farmer was selected by U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu as a recipient of the Secretary’s Achievement Honor Award. Read the story.

Argonne awarded $1.9 million for hydropower study

October 17, 2011 -- New life has been pumped into the study and modeling of hydropower storage plants, thanks to a new $1.9 million Department of Energy grant awarded to a project led by Argonne National Laboratory. Read the story.

Don Hillebrand and Jeff Chamberlain on TEDxUIllinois

October 11, 2011 -- Argonne experts discuss the laboratory's efforts to develop advanced batteries in a talk titled "A Little Can of Sunshine." Watch the video.

Argonne team helps map Fukushima radiation release

October 10, 2011 -- As the situation at the Fukushima Daiichi reactors unfolded in Japan, several employees at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory were lacing up their boots. Read the story.

Argonne, Western Lithium to develop lithium carbonate for multiple battery applications

October 5, 2011 -- Western Lithium USA Corporation is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory as a step toward the commercialization of lithium carbonate from the Company’s Kings Valley Lithium Project located in Humboldt County, Nevada, USA. Read the story.

Dow and Argonne National Laboratory collaborating on new battery materials

October 4, 2011 -- The Dow Chemical Company and the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a multi-year research collaboration to jointly develop the next generation of materials for advanced battery technologies. Read the story.

Argonne receives $3 million to create cheaper magnets

October 3, 2011 -- The United States Department of Energy (DOE) yesterday announced a $3 million grant to Argonne National Laboratory to further research in developing better, cheaper and lighter magnets. Read the story.

Wallner Receives JSAE Presenter Award

September 26, 2011 -- Thomas Wallner received the Presentation Award for Young Researchers and Engineers: Outstanding Presentation at the 2011 Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan/Society of Automotive Engineers (JSAE/SAE) International Powertrains, Fuels and Lubricants Conference on September 2. Read the story.

Argonne patents technology that increases safety of Li-ion batteries

September 15, 2011-- Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory have patented a new, extremely stable, 4-volt redox shuttle molecule that provides overcharge protection for lithium-ion batteries containing lithium-iron-phosphate based cathodes across hundreds of charging cycles. Read the story.

New materials engineering labs see early success

September 13, 2011 -- After only a few months of work, a small group of researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory has successfully scaled up the production of a new molecule that protects advanced lithium-ion batteries from thermal overcharge. Read the story.

Argonne nuclear experts organize symposium for SES conference on Oct. 13 at Northwestern

September 12, 2011 -- Argonne's symposium "Energy: Nuclear Technology Status," scheduled for October 13, is part of the Annual Technical Meeting of Society of Engineering Sciences. The session will include 16 papers by world authorities from Argonne that explain nuclear technology and discuss current research, including work in related fields, such as materials science and applied mathematics. Read more.

City of Chicago won't sweat the flu with Argonne's help

September 7, 2011 -- This spring, officials at Chicago's Department of Public Health (CPDH) watched the H5N1 bird flu tear through neighborhoods, taking down public agencies and shuttering public schools. Good thing it was just a drill. Read the story.

Argonne nuclear engineers honored for service in Japan

September 2, 2011 -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently presented a letter of appreciation to several Argonne employees for their services and expertise during the nuclear situation at the Fukuskima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Japan. Read the story.

Argonne nanoscientists invent better etching technique

August 18, 2011 -- Imagine yourself nano-sized, standing on the edge of a soon-to-be computer chip. Down shoots a beam of electrons, carving precise topography that is then etched the depth of the Grand Canyon into the chip. From the perspective of scientists at Argonne National Laboratory, this improved form of etching could open the door to new technologies. Read the story.

Tribal Schools Create Their Own Biodiesel

July 22, 2011 -- Last year, American Indian tribal colleges and high schools competed to build the best wind turbine; this year, their challenge was different, but still related to renewable energy -- creating biodiesel fuel out of raw biomass. And the winners are... Read the story.

Tilbrook wins ANS Award

July 14, 2011 -- Roger Tilbrook, nuclear engineer, recently received the American Nuclear Society's (ANS) Distinguished Service Award. Read the story.

Diagnosing advanced batteries for a longer life

July 13, 2011 -- Imagine a battery that truly does keep on going and going—and not for just a few years, but close to decades. At the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, materials scientist Daniel Abraham works to do just that for lithium-ion batteries. Read the story.

ESCAPE: Energy Systems Planning

July 5, 2011 -- The Energy Systems Center for Analysis and Policy Evaluation (ESCAPE) is a new center designed to bring informed decision-making to energy systems planning. Read story.

Argonne electrifies energy storage research

June 29, 2011 -- A multidisciplinary team of researchers at Argonne National Laboratory is working in overdrive to develop advanced energy storage technologies to aid the growth of a nascent U.S. battery manufacturing industry, help transition the U.S. automotive fleet to one dominated by plug-in hybrid and electric passenger vehicles, and enable greater use of renewable energy technologies. Read the story.

Argonne wins four 'Oscars of Innovation' from R&D Magazine

June 22, 2011 -- Four technologies developed by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory have won R&D 100 awards. Read the story.

Argonne featured in 2011 Technology for Today

June 2011 -- The 2011 edition of Technology for Today features Argonne's biochip research and vehicle recycling technology on pages 19 and 45, respectively. Read the publication.

2011 EcoCAR Winners Announced

June 17, 2011 -- Students from Virginia Tech University learned last night that their teamwork, perseverance and hard work have led to top honors when they were named the overall winners of EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge after designing and building an exceptional extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) using E85 (ethanol). Read the story.

Five Myths about Diesel Engines

June 13, 2011 -- Diesel engines, long confined to trucks and ships, are garnering more interest for their fuel efficiency and reduced carbon dioxide emissions, relative to gasoline engines. Argonne mechanical engineer Steve Ciatti takes a crack at some of the more persistent myths surrounding the technology. Read the story.

Chu, Durbin break ground for new Energy Sciences Building

June 3, 2011 -- U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin joined officials from Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Chicago at a groundbreaking event Friday, June 3, for a new Energy Sciences Building at Argonne. Read the story.

Video: ESB Fly-Through

June 3, 2011 -- The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Energy Sciences Building was attended by DOE Secretary Chu. View fly-though video showing interior of new building.

Putting the 'fuel' in biofuels

May 25, 2011 -- Recent discussions of methods by which biomass—grasses, trees, and other vegetation—could be turned into fuel makes a lot of sense in theory. Plant matter is composed of energy-intensive carbohydrates, but even now scientists still don't have the perfect solution for converting plant sugars into combustible fuels. Read the story.

Argonne on Jeopardy!

May 20, 2011 -- Argonne returned to Jeopardy! with five clues in the "Cars of Today" category. Watch the video.

Meet... Researchers from Argonne's Nuclear Engineering Division

May 17, 2011 -- A sampling of stories about the men and women behind everyday research and development in nuclear engineering. What do they have in common? Their committment, a genuine passion for their work and sharing knowledge. Read the stories.

Video on the Institute for Atom-Efficient Chemical Transformations (IACT)

May 16, 2011 -- The Institute for Atom-Efficient Chemical Transformations (IACT) is an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. IACT focuses on advancing the science of catalysis to improve the efficiency of producing fuels from biomass and coal. Watch the video.

Jim Miller Receives DOE Award

May 11, 2011 -- This award is given to Dr. Jim Miller jointly by EERE's Vehicle Technologies and Fuel Cell Technologies programs for his support and leadership over the last two decades across both programs. Read the story.

Combining gas and diesel engines could yield best of both worlds

May 4, 2011 -- It may be hard to believe, but the beloved gasoline engine that powers more than 200 million cars across America every day didn't get its status because it's the most efficient engine. Diesel engines can be more than twice as efficient, but they spew soot and pollutants into the air. Read the story.

Building a Better Battery

April 26, 2011 -- Argonne is at the cutting edge of the effort to create advanced battery technologies, focusing especially on the lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery, which promises more energy and longer life than the nickel-metal hydride battery currently used in electric and hybrid vehicles. Read the story.

Video of Lessons from Fukushima panel

April 21, 2011 -- The University of Chicago Alumni Association, in conjunction with Argonne National Laboratory and the Harris Energy Policy Institute, invite you to join us for a discussion that will explore the impact of nuclear energy, now and in the future. Watch the video.

EcoCAR 2: Plugging into the Future launches at SAE 2011 World Congress

April 13, 2011 -- SAE World Congress served as the perfect venue to jump-start the new program because, like EcoCAR 2, the conference aims to equip today’s engineers with the knowledge and training needed to continue the evolution of automotive propulsion technology and energy efficiency. Read the story.

Argonne RAP Team assisting Japan's nuclear response

April 5, 2011 -- Members of the Radiological Assistance Program (RAP) Team stationed at Argonne are on their way to Japan today to assist in detecting, analyzing and mapping radioactive contamination from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Read the story.

Read the TRACC newsletter

April 1, 2011 -- Argonne's Transportation Research and Analysis Computing Center (TRACC) highlights events and accomplishments in its April newsletter. View the newsletter.

The Breakthrough Behind the Chevy Volt Battery

March 28, 2011 -- A revolutionary breakthrough cathode for lithium-ion batteries—the kind in your cell phone, laptop and new hybrid cars—makes them longer, run more safely and perform better than batteries currently on the market. Read the story.

Argonne, Nalco strike licensing deal on resin wafer technology

March 17, 2011 -- Argonne National Laboratory and Nalco Company, with headquarters in Naperville, Ill., have reached a licensing agreement for an electrodeionization technology that will help significantly reduce the cost of producing clean energy and of the chemicals and water used in industry. Read the story.

Fulbright scholar Daniel Duke to visit Argonne for fuel spray research

March 14, 2011 -- Through his Fulbright, Daniel Duke will go to Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois to use pioneering Synchrotron X-ray techniques developed in the U.S. in combination with the methods he has been developing during his PhD to attain a better understanding of the formation of sprays. Read the story.

Thomas Wallner receives SAE award

March 2, 2011 -- Thomas Wallner receives a speaker's award from SAE. Read the story.

Flying High with Lab-on-a-chip Technologies

February 24, 2011 -- When Aeraj ul Haque joined Argonne’s Bio-Detection Technologies team in August, he viewed the position as a launching pad for his innovative work with lab-on-a-chip technologies. Read the story.

DOE Blog: Argonne Lab’s Breakthrough Cathode Technology Powers Electric Vehicles of Today

February 14, 2011 -- The Department of Energy has been investing in vehicle electrification for more than a decade, with results that speak for themselves. Argonne's Jeff Chamberlain is interviewed. Read the story.

DOE Report: One Million Electric Vehicles

February 11, 2011 -- A status report on President Obama's plan. Read the PDF report.

Oyelayo Ajayi named Fellow of STLE

February 11, 2011 -- Oyelayo Ajayi was recently named a Fellow of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers. Read the story.

Argonne’s DERC: Powering Alternative Energy Solutions

February 8, 2011 -- When Argonne researchers recently fired up a new 470-horsepower, six-cylinder Cummins engine, it was the largest to ever run in one of the laboratory’s engine test cells. Read the story.

Seth Snyder named president of CCR

February 7, 2011 -- Recently the Council for Chemical Research (CCR) announced Argonne's Seth Snyder as its new president. Read the story.

Argonne, Envia strike deal to license advanced battery technology

January 26, 2011 -- Argonne National Laboratory has licensed its cathode technology to Envia Systems, based in Newark, Calif. The deal marks the fifth licensing agreement for the Argonne-developed cathode technology. Read the story.

Argonne strikes licensing deals with LG Chem, GM for advanced battery technology

January 6, 2011 -- General Motors Co., LG Chem, Ltd. and the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory announced today they have reached a licensing agreement to use Argonne's patented composite cathode material to make advanced lithium-ion batteries that last longer between charges and can charge at higher voltages. Read the story.