Publications

Sep, 2026

Journal

Nanostructuring and Underscreening of Bisalt Electrolytes with Dual-Anion Effects: Insights from Small-Angle Scattering Prepeak Analysis

Using small-angle neutron scattering, we studied the nanostructure of a prototypical D(H)-bonded network electrolyte, alkaline sodium aluminate bisalt, at concentrations up to solute volume fraction of ∼0.5. Analysis of the structure factor prepeak at 0.1 < Q < 1.3 Å–1 showed that its evolution is associated with nanoscopic species distribution in water–anion network, with…

Aug, 2026

ORNL Report

Initial Characterization of Unirradiated Concrete And Summary of Stainless Steel Weld Harvesting from Ringhals Unit 2 in FY25

Aug, 2026

Journal

The evolution of coal porosity during pyrolysis

Gasification of coal, municipal waste, or other organic materials is a potential hydrogen source that entails complex thermal decomposition and transport processes. This study provides a multiscale analysis of these processes for sub-bituminous (Usibelli, Healy, Alaska) and lignite (Center, North Dakota) coals and provides data useful for process design. The chemistry, min…

Jul, 2026

Journal

Noncollinear spin order, field-induced transitions, and short-range correlations in Cu4⁢SO4⁢(OH)6

We report a comprehensive study of spin-1/2 quantum magnet brochantite, Cu4⁢SO4⁢(OH)6, combining high-field thermodynamic measurements, polarized neutron diffraction, inelastic neutron scattering, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Using bulk magnetization and specific heat measurements we construct the magnetic 𝐻−𝑇 phase diagram for magnetic fields applied along…

Apr, 2026

Journal

Libration of hydroxyl groups in layered aluminum (oxy)hydroxides and other material analogs: insights from inelastic neutron scattering and theory

We analyzed the hydroxyl librational signatures of five structurally related aluminum (oxy)hydroxides, using inelastic neutron scattering (INS) and plane-wave lattice dynamics simulations. A clear trend across these aluminum-containing phases illustrates the relationship between hydrogen bonding, local atomic structure, and the spectral location and profile of the libratio…

Apr, 2026

Journal

The Effects of Iron and Manganese Doping on the Carbonation of Brucite [Mg(OH)2]

Brucite [Mg(OH)2] is a promising sorbent for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) due to its availability and low calcination temperatures. However, natural and synthetic brucites tend to contain metal impurities, such as iron or manganese, and how these impurities affect the interfacial chemical reactivity is uncertain. Here, the impact of low concentrations of iron and manganese…

Feb, 2026

Journal

Mechanistic Insights into Defect-Mediated Crystallization Revealed by Lattice Strain Evolution

Structural defects and lattice strain are intrinsic to many crystalline materials, yet their roles in controlling chemical reaction mechanisms and directing crystallization pathways remain poorly understood. Here, we revealed the three-dimensional evolution of strain and dislocation defects at the nanoscale during the growth of heterogeneously nucleated barite (BaSO4) and…

Nov, 2025

Journal

Hydrogen Production from Polyethylene Pyrolysis

Hydrogen is anticipated to play a pivotal role in the future of clean energy and decarbonization efforts, serving as an energy storage medium, a power generation source, and a clean fuel for transportation. While most hydrogen is produced from carbonaceous fossil feedstocks like natural gas, petroleum, and coal, there is growing interest in using refuse-derived fuels such…

Nov, 2025

Journal

Sol-gel synthesis of nano-scale, end-member albite feldspar (NaAlSi3O8)

Feldspars are the most abundant minerals in the Earth’s crust, and are also important constituents of many lunar rocks and some stony meteorites. Albite (NaAlSi3O8) makes up the sodium corner of the feldspar ternary diagram (KAlSi3O8 - NaAlSi3O8 – CaAl2Si2O8) and connects the alkali-feldspar and plagioclase binary joins. Synthesis of albite, however, has long been a proble…

Nov, 2025

Journal

Quasielastic and Inelastic Neutron Scattering Study of Ultraconfined Water in Natural Mordenite ((Ca,Na2,K2)Al2Si10O24·7H2O)

Mordenite ((Ca,Na2,K2)Al2Si10O24·7H2O) is a natural and synthetic nanoporous zeolite containing several channels of different sizes in its structure. Because of this, its structure provides an important opportunity to study the relationship between confined and ultraconfined water as these channels have sizes between those typical of these water environments. In this study…

Nov, 2025

Journal

Improved Calculation of the Young’s Modulus of Rectangular Prisms from Their Resonant Frequency Overtones by Identifying Appropriate Shear Constants

Young’s modulus is an important parameter for characterizing the strength of, and wave propagation through, a given material. This study improves the estimation of Young’s modulus using the impulse excitation technique based on an experimental analysis of 19 borosilicate glass bars. Analysis of the frequency equations relating Young’s modulus to the out-ofplane and in-plan…

Nov, 2025

Journal

Effects of γ-Irradiation, Cation Size, and Salt Concentration on the Aggregation of Boehmite Nanoplatelets

Effects of radiation on the aggregation of nanoplatelets of aluminum oxyhydroxide (boehmite) in slurries of M1+ cation nitrates have been observed using tumbler small- and ultra-small-angle neutron scattering. Nitrate solutions of H, Li, Na, K, and Rb at concentrations of 10–5, 10–3, 10–1, 2, and 4 molal were compared to the results for pure H2O. Primary aggregates consist…