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Influencing structure in the heart of nanoland: Light used to control size of nanopores

DOE/Sandia National Laboratories
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Pianos and cars may be tuned with wrenches and screwdrivers, but the old clunky tools just won’t do to adjust the sizes of trillions of nanoscopic pores in fine filters, sensors, or diffraction gratings to make them work better. Sandia National Labs reports precise size adjustments of nanopores through use of a simple ultraviolet beam of light, with precision so fine it could achieve the long-sought goal of membrane-based separation of oxygen from nitrogen (size diffence: 0.2 Angstroms).

Journal: Science
Funder: DOE Basic Energy Sciences; Defense Advanced Research Project Agency; Sandia LDRD

New Sandia control method opens doors for more photovoltaic systems being safely linked to electric grid

DOE/Sandia National Laboratories
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new way to safely, simply and effectively connect electricity-producing photovoltaic (PV) solar systems to utility company power grids has been developed by the Department of Energy’s Sandia National Laboratories. Already several manufacturers have adapted it into their systems.

Major issue impeding successful magnetic confinement fusion resolved by joint Sandia/General Atomics/UC-San Diego research

DOE/Sandia National Laboratories
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A research team from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Sandia National Laboratories, General Atomics and the University of California at San Diego has resolved one of many issues impeding successful magnetic confinement fusion. The team discovered a way to keep the fusion plasma from eroding divertor walls inside tokamak fusion machines.

Caught in the grip of a crushing magnetic force: New technique tests, may create, materials

DOE/Sandia National Laboratories
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Pressures that increase from zero to a million crushing atmospheres in a few billionths of a second are testing materials with unheard-of precision at Sandia National Laboratories' Z machine. Z's power, generated by its pulverizing magnetic field, will aid the US stockpile stewardship program, answer basic physics questions, and — used similarly to the way Earth's internal pressures create diamond from coal — may create new materials.

Funder: Department of Energy

Tiny sampling device promises big results for detection and analysis of chemicals

DOE/Sandia National Laboratories
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A sampling device smaller than the tip of a fingernail promises big results for detecting and analyzing trace chemicals. The tool, developed by the Department of Energy’s Sandia National Laboratories, is a super miniaturized version of a traditional preconcentrator used to collect sample gases for analysis. The active area of the device is only two millimeters by two millimeters.

Sandia researchers perform first-ever multiple copper corrosion experiments on single silicon wafer

DOE/Sandia National Laboratories
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In a new approach to studying atmospheric corrosion on copper, researchers at the Department of Energy’s Sandia National Laboratories are putting multiple corrosion experiments on a single silicon wafer in a type of micro- laboratory.The combinatorial experimental method promises to shed light on how and why copper corrodes. Conductive copper is essential to most electronic devices

Sandia Red Team hacks all defenses

DOE/Sandia National Laboratories
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The Sandia Red Team has successfully attacked every computing system the group has attempted, demonstrating that competent outsiders can hack into almost all networked computers as presently conformed, no matter how well guarded, even when attack methods are announced in advance.

Funder: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

Navajo Tribal Utility Authority brings solar electricity to homes in remote areas

DOE/Sandia National Laboratories
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new solar power initiative of the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) is bringing electricity to the homes of people living in remote areas of the reservation. The Department of Energy’s Sandia National Laboratories provides technical support.

Funder: Navajo Tribal Utility Authority

Summer heat spells lights out, but new power company software might keep nation’s power on

DOE/Sandia National Laboratories
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A recent study headed by Sandia National Laboratories suggests that major power emergencies might be averted if power companies adopt new command and control software that predicts future energy demand rather than simply responds to it. If last year’s power outages are any indication, this summer might bring Y2K-like power failures to large areas of the nation as power companies struggle to meet peak daytime electricity drain prompted by widespread air conditioner use.

Funder: Department of Energy

Sandia develops vertical cavity surface emitting laser that promises to reduce cost of fiber optics connections

DOE/Sandia National Laboratories
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Sandia National Laboratories have developed the first 1.3 micron electrically-pumped vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) grown on gallium arsenide. It promises to reduce the cost of high-speed fiber optics connections.