Scientific Grand Challenges differ from typical proposals because they involve the collaboration of researchers from multiple institutions, including universities, national laboratories, and industry, worldwide. Results from current Scientific Grand Challenges could give insight into how to use microbes and biological processes to address currently intractable issues in environmental remediation and energy.

Biogeochemistry. Studying how organisms exchange energy and electron flux with mineral matter in soils, sediments, and subsurface materials.

A Grand Challenge in biogeochemistry, led by PNNL scientists Dr. John Zachara and Dr. Jim Fredrickson is studying how organisms exchange energy and electron flux with mineral matter in soils, sediments, and subsurface materials. This exchange occurs across a mineral-microbe interface that is a minute, but chemically active domain whose molecular workings have perplexed scientists for decades. The biogeochemistry Grand Challenge will use advanced instrumental capabilities and the high performance computing capabilities of EMSL to understand the biologic and physical architecture of this remarkably complex domain and the microbe-mediated chemical reactions that occur within it. The research will allow scientists to understand this most basic earth-life interaction that is fundamental to the migration of environmental contaminants, to water quality, and to soil fertility and trace metal availability.

Membrane Biology. Using a systems approach to understand the network of genes and proteins that govern the structure and function of membranes and their components responsible for photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation in cyanobacteria

Membrane Biology researchers are using a systems approach to understand the network of genes and proteins that govern the structure and function of membranes and their components responsible for photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation in cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). A systems approach integrates all temporal information into a predictive, dynamic model to understand the function of a cell and the cellular membranes. These microorganisms make significant contributions to harvesting solar energy, planetary carbon sequestration, metal acquisition, and hydrogen production in marine and freshwater ecosystems. Cyanobacteria are also model microorganisms for studying the fixation of carbon dioxide through photosynthesis at the biomolecular level. The results of this Grand Challenge will provide the first comprehensive systems-level understanding of how environmental conditions influence key carbon fixation processes at the gene-protein-organism level. This Grand Challenge topic was selected because it addresses critical U.S. Department of Energy science needs, provides model microorganisms to apply high-throughput biology and computational modeling, and takes advantage of EMSL's experimental and computational capabilities.

Briefly stated, the goals of the Membrane Biology Scientific Grand Challenge are: to investigate global biological carbon sequestration processes in Synechocystis 6803 and Cyanothece 51142; to answer the question: How do the structure and dynamics of key membrane proteins regulate energy transduction, photosynthesis, hydrogen production, and metal ion homeostasis, and how is this regulation affected by the environment; to develop software tools useful for #1 and #2.

Ultimately, the goal of the Membrane Biology Grand Challenge is to be able to engineer oxygenic photosynthetic microbes with enhanced carbon sequestration abilities.

Research on the run. Investment in staff research enables new surface science capability at EMSL.

 Internal staff investment via the Intramural Research Program at the Department of Energy’s EMSL has resulted in a new capability now available to EMSL users, called PMLD.  Standing for pulsed multiple laser deposition, PMLD builds upon traditional pulsed laser deposition - a versatile instrument by which a target material is ablated by a laser, creating a plume of vaporized particles that are deposited as a thin film on a substrate. Developed by EMSL Senior Research Scientist Ken Beck, PMLD gives EMSL users the ability to synthesize novel materials, such as nanocatalysts and sensors, opening new doors in surface science research and discovery. 

The PMLD unit is mobile, compact, flexible, and capable of interfacing with a variety of laser systems and surface analytic instrumentation available to EMSL users.  Moreover, it features a self-contained, ultrahigh vacuum pumping system, substrate heating unit, and optical bench. The PMLD enables five diffe deposition techniques new to EMSL: (1) traditional pulsed laser deposition with a selection of laser sources, (2) multi-target combinatorial material exploration, (3) laser back ablation, (4) multi-laser pulsed laser deposition for tailored film and phase deposition, and (5) reactive ballistic pulsed laser deposition for high-surface-area nanoarchitectures.  These techniques reduce waste in addition to enabling new research.  For example, during laser back ablation, the beam interacts with the target from the “back side,” resulting less waste of the starting target material and faster deposition rates.  Multi-laser pulsed laser deposition enables one laser to ablate and a second laser to further ionize and heat the plume so the temperature of the deposited material, and potentially its phase, can be changed.  Using reactive ballistic pulsed laser deposition, scientists can synthesize crystalline, nanostructured metal oxide thin films made from refactory grade metals, or other high-temperature materials with high surface area.

PMLD unit aligned with EMSL’s photoemission electron microscope.  PMLD’s design allows it to replace the photoemission electron microscope loadlock chamber for sample preparation. 

Scientific impact:  PMLD supports EMSL’s goal to design and synthesize increasingly complex materials, allowing EMSL users to produce novel surfaces that apply to research in all of EMSL’s Science Themes.  In particular, PMLD will enhance research and development of electronic and optical materials. 

Societal impact: PMLD affords researchers the ability to synthesize novel materials such as nanocatalysts, sensors, and “smart” metal alloys.  The flexibility of this new tool may lead to the discovery of optimal structures and functionalities for the improved efficiency, safety, and reliability of processes and products – for example, optimized efficiency of transport vehicles.  In addition, techniques used in PMLD promote the efficient use and reuse of materials that can make a major contribution to a sustainable society.

Vasil Sidorov on September 12, 2009 E-mail: sidorovvasil@gmail.com

From PNNL`s Reports