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Author Archives: Michael Padilla

Sandia research focuses on ‘switching on’ iron in clay minerals

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Sandia National Laboratories researchers have discovered the mechanism to “switch on” iron residing in clay mineral structures, leading to the understanding of how to make iron reactive under oxygen-free conditions. This research will help scientists understand and predict how contaminants, such as arsenic, selenium and chromium, move through the environment and enter […]

New look at old data leads to cleaner engines

LIVERMORE, Calif. — New insights about how to understand and ultimately control the chemistry of ignition behavior and pollutant formation have been discovered in research led by Sandia National Laboratories. The discovery eventually will lead to cleaner, more efficient internal combustion engines. “Our findings will allow the design of new fuels and improved combustion strategies,” […]

Digesting hydrocarbons

LIVERMORE, Calif. — Volatile organic compounds can be found in the air — everywhere. A wide range of sources, including from plants, cooking fuels and household cleaners, emit these compounds directly. They also can be formed in the atmosphere through a complex network of photochemical reactions. Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories and colleagues from other […]

Sandia researcher elected fellow of the American Physical Society

LIVERMORE, Calif. — Sandia National Laboratories researcher Jacqueline Chen has been elected as a fellow of the American Physical Society. This honor is afforded each year to no more than 0.5 percent of the members of the society. Chen was honored “for fundamental insights into turbulence-chemistry interactions revealed through massively parallel direct numerical simulations.” “Being […]

Cracking the code to soot formation

LIVERMORE, Calif. — The longstanding mystery of soot formation, which combustion scientists have been trying to explain for decades, appears to be finally solved, thanks to research led by Sandia National Laboratories. Soot is ubiquitous and has large detrimental effects on human health, agriculture, energy-consumption efficiency, climate and air quality. Responsible for significantly increased rates […]

Society of Women Engineers recognizes Sandia researcher with its highest honor

LIVERMORE, Calif. — Jacqueline Chen, a distinguished member of the technical staff at Sandia National Laboratories, has been recognized with an Achievement Award from the Society of Women Engineers for her impact on the engineering community and the society. This award is the highest honor given by the society and recognizes outstanding technical contributions for […]

Researchers discover new source of formic acid over Pacific, Indian oceans

LIVERMORE, Calif. — Insights from experiments at Sandia National Laboratories designed to push chemical systems far from equilibrium allowed an international group of researchers to discover a new major source of formic acid over the Pacific and Indian oceans. The discovery was published in the July 3 issue of Nature Communications and featured on the […]

National Academy of Engineering selects Sandia employee for top honor

LIVERMORE, Calif. — Sandia National Laboratories researcher Brandon Heimer has been selected to participate in the National Academy of Engineering’s 24th annual U.S. Frontiers of Engineering symposium. In its announcement, the academy called Heimer one of 84 of the nation’s “top-notch” engineers ages 30 to 45 who are performing exceptional engineering research and technical work […]

Sandia researchers named fellows of The Combustion Institute

LIVERMORE, Calif. — Sandia National Laboratories researchers Robert Barlow and Jacqueline Chen are among 125 members who have been named inaugural fellows of The Combustion Institute. As dedicated members of the international combustion community, fellows are recognized by their peers as distinguished for outstanding contributions to combustion research, whether in combustion fundamentals or in applications. […]

Computer science teacher wins 2018 Sandia Excellence in Teaching Award

LIVERMORE, Calif. – Miguel Baez, Granada High School computer science teacher, was recently getting his students motivated after welcoming them back from lunch. After getting his class settled, he was interrupted by P.J. Daley, the school’s principal. The class murmured to each other, trying to figure out why their principal had entered their classroom and […]

New chemical mechanisms identified on road to cleaner, more efficient combustion

LIVERMORE, Calif. — Sandia National Laboratories researchers have identified key chemical mechanisms for the first time that add to the fundamental knowledge of combustion chemistry and might lead to cleaner combustion in engines. Sandia researcher Nils Hansen and former postdoctoral appointee Kai Moshammer focused on low-temperature oxidation of hydrocarbons and other alternative fuels. They identified […]

Sandia researcher Jacqueline Chen elected to National Academy of Engineering

LIVERMORE, Calif. — Jacqueline Chen, a distinguished member of the technical staff at Sandia National Laboratories, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering. Chen is among the 99 new members from around the globe in the 2018 class. Election to the National Academy of Engineering is the highest professional distinction for an engineer […]

Sandia donates $25,000 to Valley Children’s Museum

LIVERMORE, Calif. — Sandia National Laboratories has donated $25,000 to the Valley Children’s Museum in Dublin, California. The grant, made possible through Sandia’s gifts and grants program, will be used to update the museum’s exhibit space and curriculum with engineering-themed activities. “Sandia is honored to be a partner in bringing the world of engineering to […]

Clean Energy Education & Empowerment Award goes to Sandia researcher

LIVERMORE, Calif. — Sandia National Laboratories researcher Chris LaFleur has received a 2017 Clean Energy Education & Empowerment Award. LaFleur was one of 10 recipients recognized at the sixth annual C3E Women in Clean Energy Symposium in partnership with the MIT Energy Initiative and Stanford University’s Precourt Institute for Energy. LaFleur is responsible for leading Sandia’s […]

Reducing the traffic jam in batteries

Sandia researchers make solid ground toward better lithium-ion battery interfaces LIVERMORE, Calif. – Research at Sandia National Laboratories has identified a major obstacle to advancing solid-state lithium-ion battery performance in small electronics: the flow of lithium ions across battery interfaces. Sandia’s three-year Laboratory Directed Research and Development project investigated the nanoscale chemistry of solid-state batteries, […]