לוח שנה משולב

Using state-of-the-art high-resolution solution X-ray scattering methods combined with our recently-developed analysis tools we were able to study how the structure of ions and zwitterionic lipids regulates the charge of dipolar phospholipid membranes. This study was then extended to develop a unique way to probe the manner by which the composition of binary and ternary lipid mixtures can regulate the size and stability of lipid raft-like domains.

Aberration-correction in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has seen an enormous boom during thelast decade, not just because of the formidable advancement of resolution. Improved contrast and imaging oflight atoms opens the possibilty of picometer scale mapping of atomic positions and more accurate chemicalquantification, increased probe currents allow for shorter acquisition times and higher signal-to-noise ratio for spectroscopy. The recent addition of chromatic aberration correction adds new capabilities improving the temporaldamping envelope of the objective lens. “Gentle” low voltage microscopy for carbon-based and organic materials and field-free imaging of magnetic materials with a Lorentz lens with a resolution close to atomic spatial resolution are key advantages of Cc-correction. Materials applications presented in this talk will be complemented by most recent results obtained onEurope's first chromatically and spherically corrected electron microscope. Besides the picometer preciselocalization of atoms in perovskite crystals, high-resolution spectroscopy both in scanning TEM and Cc¬corrected energy-filtered TEM provide element sensitive image maps for oxide hetero-interfaces on thelattice scale. Cc-corrected in-situ TEM at a specimen temperature higher than 600°C with atomic resolutionand nanomanipulation of single graphene layers are further examples.

It is well known that the amount of solar energy striking a 500500 kilometer portion of the earth is sufficient to meet the current energy demand of the entire planet. As such, the U.S. National Academy of Engineering has cited the economical capture and utilization of solar energy as one of the National Grand Challenges. Making fuels from sunlight is one of the strategic goals in the Department of Energy’s report, New Science for a Secure and Sustainable Energy Future. Because solar energy is an intermittent power source and the most suitable locations for solar power collection are desert regions and generally away from urban centers, it is essential that solar energy collection be coupled with energy storage technologies to be economical. Numerous storage solutions are being pursued, but the chemical storage of solar energy as a fuel is a superior concept due to the high energy density and the existing global infrastructure for fuel transport and storage. This talk will discuss a novel dual cavity, windowless, high temperature chemical reactor that converts concentrated solar thermal energy to Syngas, which is currently under development at the University of Florida. The cost effective, solar thermochemical production of Syngas, using an iron-based non-volatile metal oxide looping processes as a precursor for clean and carbon neutral synthetic hydrocarbon fuels such as methanol, methane, or synthetic petroleum, is the overarching project goal. The reactor uses water and recycled CO2 as the sole feed-stock and concentrated solar radiation as the sole energy source. Thus, the solar fuel is completely renewable and carbon neutral. A highly reactive, high surface area iron-based porous structure has been synthesized using a magnetically stabilized bed sintering technique. A hybrid reactor kinetic model has been developed and validated over a number of cycles in laboratory scale reactors. A 5000 sun solar simulator has been developed as an energy driver for the thermochemical reactions. Ongoing work involving the high temperature looping process to convert coal to hydrogen will also be considered.