The Functional Material Synthesis & Integration Group
The Functional Materials Synthesis & Integration Group in the Materials Science Division at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory conducts research at the intersection of chemistry, materials science, and chemical engineering. Diverse materials including organic compounds, composites, and inorganic materials are synthesized, characterized and processed at various length scales spanning the nano-meso-macro regimes. The breadth of our expertise in materials synthesis, characterization, integration and application allows us to provide materials related solutions and expertise to various LLNL programs, which includes National Ignition Facility, Weapons Complex Integration, and Global Security programs. We also perform basic science R&D in support of externally funded research with energy and national security applications.
Nanomaterial Synthesis and Assembly
Materials at the nano-scale possess unique properties that are highly sensitive to their structure, shape, and composition. Properties such as optical, electromagnetic, and catalytic activities can be tuned and optimized for specific applications in energy conversion/storage, sensing, and light manipulation. Shape control syntheses with specific facet expressions in nanoparticles are being developed and their structure-to-property relationship are being investigated. Continuous flow synthesis and characterization platforms are currently being employed to allow efficient and real time syntheses, in-situ characterization, and particle assembly of metal, metal oxide, and ceramic micro and nanoparticles. Templated particle assembly via patterned electrodes and electric field manipulation is also being explored for bottom-up materials fabrication with unique properties.
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Diverse materials can be synthesized and assembled to unique patterns
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Organic Polymer & Synthesis
Our group has expertise in organic and polymeric chemistry, supporting a wide range of research needs at LLNL. We are also residents of the High Explosives Applications Facility (HEAF) where an extensive infrastructure is set up for energetic materials synthesis, formulation and testing. We design and synthesize new energetic compounds in an effort to improve their safety, cost, and performance over current industry standards. We synthesize a wide variety of heterocyclic compounds as both precursors compounds and energetic heterocycles.
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Microcapsules for CO2 capture
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Fabrication and Assembly of Microparticles/Composites
Directed assembly of nano and micro particles is a promising route for materials creation, fine tuning of materials properties, and manufacturing devices. We utilize patterned electrodes and electrophoretic deposition process to control particle assemblies. We have demonstrated single particle deposition control using e-beam patterned electrodes, as well as control structural color by assembly of amorphous photonic materials. Controlled assembly of particles can benefit many potential applications including photonic bandgap crystals, nanoelectronic devices, display technologies, optical switches and filters, and smart window technologies.
Support Structures for Biocatalysts
Our group's research at the interface between functional materials and biological systems integrates the highly evolved and unparalleled selectivity, specificity, and function of enzymes, proteins, and cells with materials designed to harness this potential for specific applications. These applications include biocatalysis for energy, biological sensing, and biomaterials. Recent and ongoing projects in our group involve the synthesis and testing of new enzyme active site mimics for carbon capture, the incorporation of a hydrogen producing enzyme into a synthetic scaffold to enhance enzyme solubility and stability, and the design of new materials to facilitate biocatalysis for methane conversion to liquid fuels. These efforts have required interdisciplinary teams with expertise in computational, inorganic, polymer, analytical, and materials chemistry. Additionally, we have recent and ongoing projects in protein-directed materials synthesis, optically active materials for biological sensing, and patterned surface chemistry for improving the electrical interface between neurons and microelectrode arrays.
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Polymer mediated biocatalysis
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Surface functionalized electrodes for cell adhesion
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Additive Manufacturing
We are engaged in advanced ceramic synthesis and processing of hard materials for cutting/grinding/polishing and defense applications. Our processing methods include additive manufacturing techniques where functionally graded materials and unique composites have been synthesized. Fundamental understanding of electrical and transport properties is being explored and simulations of materials assembly provide real time comparisons with experimental parameters.
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Microstructure of ceramic-metal composites for armor applications
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Arbitrary dopant profile in transparent ceramic enabled
through custom additive manufacturing
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Energetic Material Formulation
We formulate explosives with various polymers, plasticizers and additives to produce a formulation that has specific physical characteristics to meet the needs of a sponsor. We have unique explosive processing equipment that converts newly synthesized explosives, plasticizers, binders and other additives into melt cast explosives, cast-cure explosives or plastic bonded explosives (PBXs). The miniature Holston slurry coating process for developing research PBXs is shown below as one example. Instrumentation dedicated to the characterization of explosives and their formulation available in HEAF includes: FTIR, NMR, thermal methods, rheological and mechanical measurements, optical and SEM, and particle size and density distribution.
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Materials Characterization
Our group has access to world-class facilities and instrumentations for characterizing material’s physical, chemical and mechanical properties. Routine instrumentations utilized for material characterization include (but not limited to) scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, solid state and liquid UV-Vis spectrophotometer, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometer, zeta potential analyzer, particle size analyzer, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, rheometer, contact angle goniometer, Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, gas chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometer, atomic force microscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.