Working to solve grand challenges in energy

Facilities and Supporting Programs

State-of-the-art facilities enable visiting scientists and industry partners to work with Brookhaven Lab’s expert staff to create, characterize, understand, and exploit nanomaterials in real working conditions for energy solutions.

National Synchrotron Light Source II

National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) is one of the most advanced tools for discovery class science in life sciences, quantum materials, energy storage, advanced materials science, physics, chemistry, and biology; science that ultimately will enhance national and energy security and help drive abundant, safe, and clean energy technologies. NSLS-II offers scientists from universities and industry the ability to make major advances that will enable new energy technologies such as nocatalyst-based fuel cells, solar energy, high temperature superconductors, electrical storage systems, and more.

Laboratory for BioMolecular Structure

The Laboratory for BioMolecular Structure (LBMS) is a state-of-the-art center for life science imaging with the mission to increase our fundamental understanding about the building blocks of all living organisms and their function. By fulling its mission, LBMS fosters faster developments in biotechnology, drug development, and medical technologies to meet the nation’s needs in biofuels and healthcare. LBMS offers researchers from universities and industry free access to state-of-the-art cryo-electron microscopes and laboratory equipment to investigate life in its many forms on a molecular level.

Center for Functional Nanomaterials

The Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN) explores the unique properties of materials and processes at the nanoscale. The CFN is a user-oriented research center whose mission is to be an open facility for the nanoscience research community and advance the science of nanomaterials that address the nation's energy challenges. CFN hosts a broad range of nanoscience research in such diverse fields as efficient catalysts, fuel cell chemistries and architectures, and photovoltaic components.

Chemistry Division

Chemistry Division scientists conduct basic and applied research in the chemical sciences with an emphasis on new energy conversion pathways. Primary research subjects include catalysis and electrocatalysis for sustainable fuel synthesis and use, solar energy conversion to fuels, fundamental gas and condensed phase molecular dynamics, radiation chemistry, and advanced chemical separations for energy applications.

CMPMS Department

The field of Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science (CMPMS) integrates the knowledge and tools of chemistry and physics with the principles of engineering to understand and optimize the behavior of materials, as well as to create new and improved materials. CMPMS researchers study basic, theoretical and applied aspects of materials, their utilization, and their electronic, physical, mechanical, and chemical properties in relation to their structure.

Interdisciplinary Science Dept.

The Interdisciplinary Science Department finds alternatives to fossil fuels and improves energy efficiency to meet our exponentially growing energy needs over the next century and beyond. The department focuses research on energy storage such as solid-state hydrogen storage and lithium batteries, renewable energy and grid integration, energy conversion, and long-term integrated energy, environmental, and economic analysis.