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Home » R&D Programs » Transportation Energy: Biofuels and Hydrogen

R&D PROGRAMS

 

Technical Contacts:

Biofuels »
Blake Simmons
(925) 294-2288

Electrification »
Art Pontau
(925) 294-3159

Hydrogen »
Jay Keller
(925) 294-3316

Partnership & Licensing Contacts:

Carrie Burchard
(925) 294-1213

Jill Micheau
(925) 294-3672

Related Info:

Transportation Energy: Biofuels and Hydrogen

Global demand for energy has risen dramatically in recent years, yet the world continues to rely heavily on fossil fuels for its energy needs—a troubling key contributor to international issues of energy security and climate change. Burning fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide emissions, a major cause of global climate change. In addition, the predominance of fossil fuels in the global economy has led to disproportionate power for the small group of nation suppliers. Finally, the Earth’s finite supply of fossil fuels will inevitably be outstripped by demand, underscoring the need to develop and use alternative energy sources.

This imminent worldwide energy crisis requires the development of new energy solutions, particularly in the area of transportation energy. Sandia scientists are tackling this challenge with a multidisciplinary approach that is expanding the boundaries of biofuels, electrification, and hydrogen research and development (R&D). Sandia has also launched the Hub for Innovation in the Transportation Community (HITEC), a venture that brings together public and private entities to develop new transportation energy solutions in vehicle engine efficiency, vehicle electrification, and low-carbon alternative fuels.

Biofuels R&D

photo of the biofuel cycle, from feedstock to end user

The biofuel life cycle—from feedstock to end user. (Source: DOE)

Biofuels derived from both cellulosic biomass and algae feedstock have great potential to meet U.S. transportation fuel requirements, thereby reducing our nation’s dependence on imported oil and minimizing global climate change. However, transitioning biofuel production from current niche levels to a level with a significant market share in the transportation fuel sector requires numerous advances in both science and technology.

Sandia researchers are poised to play a critical role in the advancement of biofuels for the nation. Sandians are also key partners at the Joint BioEnergy Institute, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Research Center that is accelerating the advancement of next-generation biofuels.

Sandia biofuels scientists are conducting fundamental investigations regarding the sustainability and environmental impact of biofuels productions and use. We are using our bioscience capabilities in genomics and proteomics, as well as our world-class biotechnology capabilities in biochemical imaging, computational biology, microfluidics, and bionanotechnology, to investigate the following crucial issues in biofuels R&D:

Visit Sandia’s biosciences website for additional information about our current biofuels research projects and about our efforts to create biofuels from cellulosic biomass and algae feedstock.

For more information, contact Blake Simmons at (925) 294-2288.

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Electrification R&D

Graph of maximum specific power versus specific energy for capacitors, lithium ion batteries, and fuel cells.

Capacitors, lithium ion batteries, and fuel cells all show promise for use in vehicle electrification.

Graph of density functional theory calculations of ion-density profiles within a charged nanopore.

Density functional theory calculations of ion-density profiles within a charged nanopore.

The transportation sector accounts for nearly two-thirds of U.S. oil consumption and is the single largest contributor to U.S. carbon-dioxide emissions. More than sixty percent of our petroleum is now imported, and these imports are growing steadily as consumption increases and domestic production declines. While many solutions will be needed to reduce our dependence on imported oil and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it is increasingly clear that vehicle electrification will play a major role, culminating in fully electric vehicles. Despite the importance of this emerging technology, however, the batteries, capacitors, and fuel cells essential to vehicle electrification suffer today from a host of performance, reliability, life expectancy, cost, and safety issues.

Photos of nanoporous materials produced through dealloying and templating methods.

Nanoporous materials produced through dealloying and templating methods.

To address these concerns, a number of research projects are being pursued by Sandia scientists, many in partnership with universities. Several of these projects seek to optimize the physical structure of battery and capacitor materials to achieve greater energy densities while also facilitating rapid charge and discharge. Other projects are focused on developing diagnostics for improving the fundamental understanding of the physical phenomena underlying capacitor, battery, and fuel cell performance. These activities are outlined below.

  1. Calculation of electric double-layer structure and ion transport within individual nanopores via molecular dynamics and density functional theory.
  2. Formulation of integral equations that incorporate noncontinuum atomistic physics into continuum-like models to simulate device performance.
  3. First-principles multiscale modeling of lithium-ion batteries to predict potential failure mechanisms and related safety concerns.
  4. Model verification through experimental studies of pore charge and discharge rates in nanoporous materials that have uniform pores of known geometries.
  5. Novel experimental diagnostics and platforms enabling the high-resolution measurement of chemical environments and electric fields adjacent to liquid/solid and gas/solid interfaces during electrochemical operation.
  6. Design of optimal storage materials by modeling ion transport in fractal-like hierarchical networks that combine nanopores for storage with larger channels for rapid ion transport.
  7. Fabrication of hierarchical material structures via phase-separation, iterative templating, self-assembly, and alloy separation methods.

These activities build upon Sandia’s recognized strengths in diagnostics, predictive modeling, and material synthesis.

For more information, contact Art Pontau at (925) 294-3159.

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Hydrogen R&D

Photo of Sandia researcher Daniel Dedrick handling a complex metal hydride within an inert production and storage environment.

Sandia researcher Daniel Dedrick handles a complex metal hydride within an inert production and storage environment. Complex metal hydrides, along with many hydrogen storage materials, react readily when exposed to air and moisture. A Sandia-led project was initiated to quantify the reactivity of these materials to enable their safe production, handling, storage, and use in automotive applications.

Sandia is advancing the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier through a range of research and engineering projects that can help diversify our country’s energy portfolio while simultaneously decreasing harmful greenhouse emissions. Our work, which is aligned with the national directive to develop commercially viable hydrogen-powered vehicles, is an important part of the DOE’s efforts to move the United States toward a new hydrogen-based energy economy.

Projects in Sandia’s Hydrogen Program range from fundamental research on hydrogen properties to comprehensive systems engineering of hydrogen technologies. Sandia scientists and management are also responsible for providing technical program guidance to DOE in areas such as hydrogen storage and materials research; safety, codes, and standards; infrastructure; distributed power; reacting flows; and systems analysis.

Sandia’s Hydrogen Program spans a breadth of technical activities, including the following:

For more information, contact Jay Keller at (925) 294-3316.

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