Sandia’s research in physical science creates innovative, science-based, solutions to our nation’s most challenging problems. Our work for the DOE’s Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES) includes materials science and engineering, chemical sciences, geosciences, and biosciences, in addition to our work in the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies. Our BES-supported fundamental science enables atomic and molecular level characterization of complex chemical transformations in the gas phase and at interfaces; investigates how structure controls materials properties and light-matter interactions; and discovers mechanisms for chemistry and transport in geological systems. Sandia’s expertise in understanding physical science is also leveraged in certain projects in Advanced Scientific Computing Research, which is under DOE’s Office of Science. Sandia’s work for DOE’s Office of Fusion Energy Sciences includes foundational studies of plasma-materials interactions, fusion blanket materials, and low temperature plasmas important to microelectronics fabrication and biomedical applications.
Why Our Work Matters
Sandia’s research in these areas works together to:
Emphasize discovery, design, and understanding of new materials and new chemical, biochemical, and geological processes
Provide fundamental understanding of chemical transformations and energy flow in systems relevant to DOE missions in energy, environment, and national security
Develop a molecular-level understanding of chemistry within nanoscale confined interfacial systems relevant to geosciences and utilize it to interpret meso-scale and continuum-scale phenomena
Lay the foundations for new energy technologies
Our Unique Value
Our programs bring together multidisciplinary teams of researchers to conduct advanced experimental and theoretical studies that lead to scientific discoveries that impact complex problems facing DOE missions in energy, environment, and national security.
The CRF responds to the nation’s evolving energy challenges with ever increasing expertise and capacity aimed at improving our nation’s ability to use and control combustion processes.
The FACT site provides the equipment and seismically quiet surroundings required for testing infrasound and seismic sensors, instrumentation, and monitoring systems.
The PRF offers collaborators access to cutting edge diagnostic and computational capabilities and the expertise that is needed to set up and execute experiments and analyze data generated during the...
Sandia and the University of Alaska Fairbanks have teamed up to advance the concept of a permanent, comprehensive multi-agency USHARC in the Prudhoe Bay area.
Sensors & Detectors • MMODS offers a breakthrough in detection technology for moving objects to enhance real-time detection of low signal-to-noise ratio targets for improved surveillance Traditional detection systems face significant challenges in identifying...
Sensors & Detectors • Innovative technology uses convenient cell phone readout to rapidly identify hazardous materials for defense, emergency response and environmental monitoring The need for effective, portable, and user-centric threat detection systems is...
Energy • Degrade plastic waste materials to valuable chemicals, food sources and renewable energy related products using a catalytic oxidative process. Transforming plastic waste to value-added components such as fuels, chemicals, or...
Energy • Apatite, which has been shown to effectively bind and immobilize radionuclides, can also be used to form barriers in water and soil in contaminated environments. The apatite barrier is formed...
Energy • Photovoltaic (PV) System Monitoring Overview Residential, commercial, and utility-scale photovoltaic (“PV”) solar systems are being rapidly deployed in the United States. With the recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act,...
Energy • A machine learning model for estimating the optimal angle of photovoltaics on single axis trackers for improved energy production in cloudy conditions Single axis trackers are commonly used in large...
Energy • A novel algae flow-way system capable of converting wastewater pollutants into net-carbon negative biofuels Waterway pollution has been aggravated by the leaking of chemical products into man-made water irrigation systems,...
Energy • Long-lasting lithium primary batteries with a wide operational temperature range and increased safety. There is an ever-growing need to produce safer batteries that have longer run times and better temperature...
Energy • An alternative to high-pressure hydrogen compression that can isolate thousands of new metal hydride compositions for hydrogen storage applications Hydrogen compression is one of the key components of a hydrogen-based...
Sensors & Detectors • Monitor and safeguard high-value assets such as enclosures, materials, and storage containers using time-reversed acoustic waves Tamper-indicating technologies are used to verify the integrity of monitored items or high valueassets....
Energy • A solid-state ceramic disc membrane that increases the lifespan of aqueous-based system batteries by eliminating cross-over species and increasing conductivity Redox flow batteries (RFB) are an increasingly promising solution for...
Energy • Offshore Wind Energy Simulator (OWENS) is a software toolset for the analysis, design, and certification of offshore, land-based, or marine hydrokinetic vertical-axis wind turbine systems. The OWENs toolset has the...
Energy • A smaller, lighter, and less expensive solution for safer release of lighter-than-air flammable gases. Gaseous or liquid hydrogen tank releases, or releases of other lighter-than-air flammable gases, are typically routed...
Energy • A greener and more renewable pathway for ammonia production Ammonia (NH3) is an energy-dense chemical and vital component of fertilizer and other chemical commodities. NH3 is currently synthesized via the...
Energy • A new method converts coal waste into a domestic source of rare earth elements with significantly improved environment, health, and safety outcomes over existing methods Current methods of mining and...
Sensors & Detectors • Sandia’s intrusion detection system uses inductive power transfer to reliably sense whether a barrier has been opened, closed, or breached relative to a stationary surface. Over the last forty years,...
Energy • Elastomers are polymeric materials with elastic properties used in gaskets, seals, tubing, and other products that provide critical sealing functions in diverse settings Elastomers are polymeric materials with elastic properties...
Energy • A simple and more efficient method for separating rare earth elements using mesoporous materials that eliminates hazardous solvents and complex, multi-step processes Rare earth elements (REEs) possess unique optical and...
Energy • This nonlinear hourglass buoy design optimizes power absorption in multi-resonant conditions and eliminates reactive power at the buoy level for more efficient wave energy converters (WECs) Ocean waves have the...
Sensors & Detectors • A scalable, modular architecture and wide-angle array for non-mechanical beamsteering — the basis of chip-scale integrated LIDAR Integrated photonic LIDAR is a highly complex and challenging integrated photonic technology with...
Sensors & Detectors • A mechanically robust, horizontally polarized dual-band GPS antenna with improved performance in cluttered signal environments Antennas are ubiquitous in devices and systems used by consumers, industry, and government. Often, these...
Sensors & Detectors • A miniaturized gyroscope with improved sensitivity and performance for navigation applications requiring low-cost and reduced power devices Gyroscopes are important for applications in navigation, guidance, and control. Ideally, gyroscopes are...
Energy • An integrated, high-efficiency conversion process for producing high purity biocrude oils, alcohols, and biofuels from wet algal biomass with minimal waste Algae represent a promising biomass crop for supplying renewable...
Sensors & Detectors • To support next generation computing, communication, and sensing needs, Sandia researchers have successfully developed a silicon photonics platform that leverages the semiconductor and nanotechnology capabilities of Sandia’s Microsystems and Engineering...
Energy • A rapid, flexible, and low-cost method of producing thermal battery components using thick film advanced manufacturing techniques to achieve greater uniformity and consistency Thermal batteries, also known as molten salt...
Energy • A low-inductance DC power bus for high frequency, high temperature operation in electric drive systems and next-generation power electronics A new generation of power electronic conversion systems are being enabled...
Energy • A higher power, solid-state thin film battery for breakthrough conductance and performance for on-package power in mass market electric vehicles (EVs) and electronic devices Enhancing battery safety and durability, reducing...
Sensors & Detectors • Gaining timely and efficient access to target biomolecules through cellular lysis is a critical step in bioscience research and development. Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories developed a miniature acoustic lysis...
Sensors & Detectors • Many research applications have a critical need for flow and electrical-current diagnostics within fluids; however, current flow visualization techniques require optical access which is often infeasible in high-temperature high-pressure (HTHP)...
Sensors & Detectors • All objects with temperatures above 0 K emit electromagnetic waves or radiation. In theory, the temperature of an object can be calculated by measuring the intensity of this emitted radiation....
Energy • Networks and systems that monitor our grid and other critical infrastructure environments use predictable communications and static configurations that make them vulnerable to attack. Sandia researchers have developed a technology...
Energy • A fundamentally new type of rotary electrical contact that addresses short operating lifetime due to sliding-contact wear and electrical arcing associated with contact bounce Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories developed...
Energy • Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed a coating architecture to replace conventional fluid lubricants with a multi-layer solid lubricant for use in drilling components deployed in extreme conditions. Down-the-hole...
Energy • Reduces soot and other EPA regulated emissions in direct-injection engines Sandia National Laboratories has developed ducted fuel injection technology for the reduction of soot and other EPA regulated emissions in...
Energy • The ability to track underground fluid flows in oil and geothermal wells is critical to allow operators to extract energy as efficiently as possible. This information will allow operators to...
Energy • Sandia National Laboratories has developed a robust centralizer that actively centers casing in deviated, directional or horizontally drilled well bores. Traditional centralizers, most commonly based on a bow spring design,...
Sensors & Detectors • Sandia National Laboratories developed an organic glass scintillator that will improve safety and security at our nation’s ports and borders. Current radiation monitors typically utilize plastic scintillators, which are unable...
Energy • There are many examples of surface modifications that reduce resistance to flow and improve performance. For instance, a dimpled golf ball can travel twice as far as a smooth ball...
Energy • Increases in bioethanol production throughout the US has led to an increase in the process co-product—distillers grains with solubles (DGS). DGS can be used to feed livestock, however, product inconsistency...
Energy • Sandia's Microgrid Design Toolkit (MDT) is a decision support software toolkit that aids designers in creating optimal microgrids. Microgrids are localized energy grids that provide flexibility through their ability to...
Energy • Inter-area oscillations may develop on power grids with large generation and load complexes separated by long transmission lines. Poorly damped inter-area oscillations can have devastating effects, such as extensive blackouts...
Sensors & Detectors • Sandia has expanded upon research into microstructured semiconductor neutron detectors and created a silicon-based device with greater sensitivity than the current state-of-the-art with adaptability for detection of general particles/radiation. Sandia’s...
Sensors & Detectors • High Energy Density (HED) physics and inertial confinement fusion experiments rely on successively monitored images for data collection High Energy Density (HED) physics and inertial confinement fusion experiments rely on...
Sensors & Detectors • Sandia has developed a miniature, zero-power radio receiver that can be easily integrated in a wide range of devices to provide continuous wireless connectivity. The underlying principle behind the Zero-Power...
Sensors & Detectors • Sandia’s mini-PDID makes it possible to diagnose illnesses by identifying volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with certain diseases and infections on a patient’s breath or in the headspace of biological...
Energy • With growing numbers of solar energy systems being proposed and installed throughout the United States, the potential impact of glint and glare from photovoltaic modules, concentrating solar collectors, receivers, and...
Energy • A novel solid-state lighting (SSL) architecture that addresses several longstanding technical challenges in SSL luminaires RCSSL improves upon the groundbreaking thermal management performance of the R&D 100 Editors’ Choice award-winning...
Energy • When designing or analyzing electrical systems, it is important to understand the relationship between input and output. Power conversion occurs in a “black box” and transfer functions can be used...
Energy • Pure molecular oxygen is important to many industrial processes such as oxy-fuel combustion, steel production, on-board oxygen generation in military aircraft and medical oxygen concentrators. Industrial-scale oxygen separation is conventionally...
Energy • Solar-thermochemical reactors used for fuel production exist in many forms, each of which offers a unique trade-off between efficient fuel production, thermal efficiency, and scalability. Sandia has developed a solar-thermochemical...
Sensors & Detectors • Sandia National Laboratories has developed a class of hybrid liquid or gel scintillators for the efficient detection of neutron radiation from nuclear threat materials. Scintillators have proven very useful in...
Sensors & Detectors • Highly sensitive, cryogen-free Atomic Magnetometer magnetic field sensor substantially reduces costs of acquiring and operating magnetoencephalography (MEG) systems The Atomic Magnetometer MEG system uses a novel sensor design that allows...
Sensors & Detectors • Existing small radiation detectors do not produce an immediate real-time warning of radiation doses because the detectors need to be sent to a lab for readout, which can require days...
Sensors & Detectors • The Sandia wave reflector is a magnetic conductor for wireless transmissions near 433 MHz. The device reflects perpendicular electromagnetic waves in-phase and suppresses surface waves resulting in improved gain performance...
Sensors & Detectors • Sensors to identify and assess the pervasive and expensive problem of corrosion in applications ranging from construction to microelectronics. Sandia’s micro sensors are designed and fabricated in the style of...
Sensors & Detectors • Summary Numerous commercial and military applications require knowing the absolute age and/or temperature history of a device or system starting from the time it is assembled or commissioned. Ideally this...
Energy • This technology provides a fully integrated and self-containing alternating current (AC) photovoltaic (PV) Building Block device and method that allows photovoltaic applications to become true plug-and-play devices. The Building Block...
Sensors & Detectors • Sandia National Laboratories has developed imaging systems for the detection, quantification and monitoring of gaseous leaks. Using the backscatter absorption gas imaging (BAGI) technique, these devices can remotely produce real-time...
Sensors & Detectors • Correlation spectrometers measure trace amounts of a chemical in the presence of many other chemicals by comparing the light transmission of a sample to a known reference.Sandia National Laboratories has...
Energy • Sandia National Laboratories has developed a sliding feed tube pressure control valve for reciprocating hammer drills that is more efficient and produces more drilling power.In the current valveless designs, the...
Energy • Revolutionary micro-solar technology utilizes glitter-sized photovoltaic cells to change how we generate and use solar power. The significantly reduced size and 100 times less silicon used, allows for increased versatility...
Sensors & Detectors • Summary Inexhaustible, miniature electrical power supplies offer the means to power battery-free microelectronic systems, or at a minimum provide a recharging capability to reduce battery size and extend their lifetimes....
Energy • Sandia National Laboratories has created solutions to startup flow issues in supercritical conversion systems. The Supercritical Brayton Cycle is a power conversion system that is undergoing extensive testing and advancements...
Energy • Increased recycling of power plant cooling water calls for low-cost means of preventing the formation of calcium carbonate and silicate scale.Hardness (Ca and Mg) and silica are two of the...
Sensors & Detectors • Sandia National Laboratories has developed a continuously monitoring fluid interface optical sensor.The method of determining the liquid level through a single immersed optical wave guide allows for a simple and...
Sensors & Detectors • A direct detector that is a depletion mode field-effect transistor built from heterostructures and consisting of electrical contacts and a grating-gate There has been much interest expressed in terahertz technology...
Energy • Versatile polymer membrane separator technologies with improved long-term stability, performance in high temperatures, and suitability for acidic and alkaline environments Fuel cells are hailed as clean, quiet, and efficient technologies...
Energy • The solar and photovoltaic industry has grown steadily over the last several years.In order to maintain these growth rates, the processes and methods need to be continuously improved.Sandia National Laboratories...
Sensors & Detectors • Many microfluidics systems use electrokinetic (EK) pumping of fluid. These applications generally require high voltage at a low current. Sandia has developed two custom power supply designs with miniaturization, modularity,...
Energy • Sandia researchers have developed a radically new architecture for air-cooled heat exchangers In conventional “fan-plus-finned-heat-sink” air-cooled heat exchangers, the primary physical limitation to performance (i.e. achieving low thermal resistance) is...
Sensors & Detectors • Sandia has developed an improved quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS). The improvement lies in the substitution of the conventional hot flament electron source with a cold cathode field emitter array (FEA),...
Energy • Sandia has developed an energy monitoring device that measures energy from liquid flow systems (e.g., solar systems) using a simple technique that senses when the system is running and then...
Sensors & Detectors • Many applications require detection of both very small and very large signals. High gain detector amplifiers provide low noise but are easily swamped by large signals. Logarithmic amplifiers provide a...
Energy • Sandia’s advanced activated carbon is used for the adsorption of noble gases (argon, krypton, and xenon) for the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. This solution is simple, reliable, and affordable....
Energy • Sandia has developed a cheap, efficient, and accurate method of measuring the irradiance from solar reflections using a digital camera. Measurements of reflected solar irradiance is of great importance to...
Energy • This technology is an automated system in which the reflection of a mirror, typically for solar applications, is characterized by the slope and slope errors. The system uses a video...
Energy • The first phase of this project is capture and encapsulation which is achieved by using nanoporous alumina to confine gaseous iodine, for example, from fission or waste processing. The captured...
Energy • This innovative technology uses a water treatment coagulant, or reagent, to facilitate the process of water purification. By inserting a single gallium atom in the center of an aluminum oxide...
Energy • Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) relies on thermodynamic processes to convert concentrated light into useful forms of energy. Accurate sun tracking enables higher concentration ratios and improved efficiency through higher temperature...
Sensors & Detectors • Sandia has developed a micro-fabricated device for identifying different organisms by their unique chemical “fingerprint” based on fatty acid (lipid) content. Applications can include food composition testing (testing the purity...
Energy • Sandia researchers have developed a technology that could potentially turn agricultural waste, weeds, and other plant products that are typically discarded or destroyed into fuel. The idea is to create...
Sensors & Detectors • Sandia National Laboratories has created a method and apparatus for measuring the position of an object. It relies on the attenuation of fluorescence light carried inside a fluorescent optical fiber...
Energy • NanoCoralTM produces platinum nanomaterials which can significantly reduce costs and improve the efficiency and durability of hydrogen fuel cells and other renewable energy technologies. NanoCoralTM is an innovative nanotechnology for...
Sensors & Detectors • Sandia National Laboratories has developed a side-emitting fiber optic position sensor and method of determining an unknown position of an object by using the sensor.Non-electrical position sensors like the one...
Energy • The Theoretical Overlay Photographic Heliostat Alignment Technique (TOPHAT) is a unique method which helps to accurately and effectively concentrate solar energy onto a receiver. By utilizing a camera/target fixture placed...
Energy • With the increasing demand for new energy distribution methods including increased efficiency and alternative sources, Intelligent Grid technologies are on the cutting edge of demand. The significance is taking the...
