Steven K. Ashby

Feb 22, 2025 | tri-cityherald.com | Steven K. Ashby

PNNL researchers Ankit Roy (left), Subhashish Meher and their teammates modeled different combinations of the elements in an alloy used in nuclear reactors to narrow in on a composition that might offer the same benefits while reducing dependence on the critical material cobalt. The researchers then produced the modified alloy and used experimental validation to test its performance.

Feb 22, 2025 | ca.news.yahoo.com | Steven K. Ashby

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory realized that sometimes developing new materials can be akin to creative baking — where substituting ingredients and making simple adjustments can lead to surprising benefits. In this case, they are studying the “recipe” for producing a durable alloy for nuclear reactors and other energy applications. Their work centered on replacing cobalt with manganese in an alloy known as Iconel 617, or IN617 for short.

Feb 10, 2025 | pnnl.gov | Steven K. Ashby

When fulfilled holiday wish lists include a new smartphone, upgraded laptop or the latest game console, their retired predecessors might be in cluttered junk drawers or landfills by January. Thanks to a new method developed by scientists at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, it may be possible to recover the critical minerals in these discarded electronics.

Jan 27, 2025 | tri-cityherald.com | Steven K. Ashby

As shown here, a method for recycling electronic waste developed by researchers at PNNL separates and extracts valuable minerals based on the different rates at which they diffuse and form solids. Image courtesy of Qingpu Wang | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory When fulfilled holiday wish lists include a new smartphone, upgraded laptop or the latest game console, their retired predecessors might be in cluttered junk drawers or landfills by January.

Dec 1, 2024 | pnnl.gov | Steven K. Ashby

This time of year, many of us are preparing our homes for holiday gatherings. But for some researchers at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, working to make homes more energy efficient and environmentally friendly is a year-long endeavor. For example, PNNL researchers are designing and performing rigorous field testing of the next generation of affordable, reliable heat pumps to help bring them to market.