ORNL, partners secure $125M renewal for Quantum Science Center
Key Points
- DOE has renewed funding for the Quantum Science Center, led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, through 2030.
- National labs, universities, and industry partners will collaborate to develop integrated quantum–HPC systems through five coordinated research thrusts.
- The initiative aims to create a new scientific ecosystem for QHPC, strengthening U.S. innovation and global leadership in quantum and high-performance computing.
|
|
ORNL, NVIDIA, HPE advance quantum computing, AI and HPC for science
The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, NVIDIA, and HPE will seek to open new insights into quantum computing and identify potential strategies toward the integration of quantum, artificial intelligence and high-performance computing for scientific discovery. Read more.
|
|
|
New ORNL Inventions
Scandium-containing soft magnetic alloys
202506111 // Energy and Utilities // Transportation
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a new class of iron-based soft magnetic alloys incorporating a unique additive that enhances strength and formability while maintaining excellent magnetic performance. These alloys can be processed into very thin sheets, enabling improved efficiency in motors and transformers. The technology addresses the long-standing brittleness of high-silicon magnetic materials, offering a cost-effective alternative that can be manufactured through conventional steelmaking processes.
High silicon soft magnetic alloys with high strength and high ductility and method to process the same
202506103 // Transportation // Energy and Utilities
Iron silicon alloys are extensively used as soft magnetic materials in electrical appliances and devices and especially for motors and transformers because of their excellent magnetic properties and relatively low cost. The main factors influencing magnetic properties are silicon concentration, strip thickness, grain size, impurities level, and crystallographic texture. The most commonly used electrical steels contain up to 3.2 wt. percent Si. They are typically processed to a thin sheet (typically 0.1-0.5 mm thick) for use as laminates in magnetic motors and transformers and stamped/laser machined. Although Fe-Si alloys with Si levels greater than 3.0 wt. percent have better magnetic properties, these are not as widely used because they are extremely brittle and cannot be rolled to the thickness required using traditional techniques. New alloys along with a process to produce 0.1-0.3 mm thick sheet have been developed as part of this invention.
Convolutional Variational Autoencoder-based Power Systems Fault Detector and Classifier
202506091 // Energy and Utilities
This technology introduces an unsupervised machine learning framework that automatically identifies and classifies power system faults without requiring labeled data. By leveraging unlabeled electrical event signals, the approach enables detection of a broader range of grid disturbances than traditional protection systems. This innovation enhances situational awareness and reliability for increasingly complex, power-electronics-based grids.
High-performance algae biocomposites with agricultural waste reinforcements
202506086 // Materials // Manufacturing
This technology provides a sustainable method for transforming wastewater-derived algae and agricultural residues into high-performance biocomposite materials. By combining abundant, low-cost waste streams with advanced surface modification techniques, the invention enhances the structural integrity and smoothness of resulting composites. The process supports scalable production of eco-friendly materials suitable for applications in packaging, insulation, and lightweight structures.
SimuScan: Synthetic Data Generator for Autonomous Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)
202506084 // Analytical Instrumentation
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a powerful tool for nanoscale characterization, but it is limited by slow scanning speeds, small imaging areas, and the need for expert operation both during image acquisition and post-processing. SimuScan makes AFM faster, smarter, and more autonomous by generating realistic, labeled synthetic data that enables and accelerates the training of artificial intelligence models capable of recognizing nanoscale features without the need for tedious and time-consuming manual labeling. This innovation enables high-throughput imaging and adaptive scanning with minimal human supervision, expanding AFM’s reach into manufacturing, diagnostics, and materials discovery.
Engineering of Clostridium Thermocellum for 2,3-butanediol Production
202506070 //Chemicals // Healthcare and Biology
To meet the growing need for renewable and cost-effective industrial chemicals, Oak Ridge National Laboratory has developed a method to enable a cellulose-degrading microorganism to produce 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO), a valuable precursor for plastics, fuels, and other materials. This advancement allows direct conversion of plant biomass into 2,3-BDO, reducing reliance on fossil feedstocks and supporting sustainable biomanufacturing.
Federated Controller Design for Process Control Leveraging Simulation-to-Real Training
202506049 // Manufacturing // Energy and Utilities
This technology introduces a novel approach to process control that reduces the time, expertise, and manual effort required to design and calibrate advanced controllers. By combining simulation-based learning with distributed, real-world data, the system continually refines control performance. The approach enables adaptive, data-driven process control that improves over time without the need for constant human oversight.
Pellet Holder System for Optimized Electrochemical Graphitization of Carbonaceous Particles
202506029 // Manufacturing // Energy and Utilities
This technology introduces an innovative pellet holder system that enhances the electrochemical graphitization process for carbon-based materials. Designed to improve electrical connectivity, electrolyte accessibility, and process scalability, the system addresses key challenges in producing high-quality graphite for energy storage and advanced materials applications. The design supports consistent results across industrial settings, contributing to improved material performance and production efficiency.
Liquid-based UHTC processing for matrix and coatings
202506027 // Manufacturing // Materials
A liquid-based process has been developed to create ultra-high-temperature ceramic (UHTC) materials that serve as protective coatings or matrices for extreme environments. This innovation addresses the growing need for improved thermal protection systems (TPS) with greater temperature capability, oxidation resistance, reusability, and reduced manufacturing costs. The resulting UHTC exhibits exceptional stability at high temperatures, making it suitable for next-generation aerospace applications and reusable spacecraft systems.
Binder-Free Graphite Anode for Enhanced Lithium-ion Battery Performance
202506021 // Energy and Utilities // Manufacturing
This technology introduces a novel binder-free anode for lithium-ion batteries designed to enhance performance, stability, and sustainability. By eliminating conventional polymer binders, the anode structure achieves improved electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and lithium-ion accessibility. The scalable fabrication process offers simplified production and greater environmental compatibility. This innovation enables longer battery life and faster charging, making it ideal for applications in electric vehicles, aerospace, and grid-scale energy storage.
Leveraging Novel Morphology Features to Infer Built Environment Targets via Transfer Learning
202506012 // Energy and Utilities
This technology introduces a scalable method for identifying features of the built environment, such as mobile home locations, using advanced data modeling techniques. By leveraging a transfer learning framework, the approach enables reliable inferences across multiple footprint datasets—overcoming limitations of source-specific models. This innovation enhances the ability to extract actionable insights from spatial data to support applications in urban planning, emergency response, and demographic analysis.
Leveraging Novel Building Morphological Features for Classifying Mobile Home Parks
202505983 // Energy and Utilities // Transportation
Accurate identification of mobile home parks (MHPs) is essential for improving emergency response, infrastructure planning, and policymaking. This technology introduces a scalable data-driven framework that classifies MHPs across large geographic regions using unique morphological characteristics of the built environment. By distinguishing MHPs from other types of structures, this approach enables more proactive assessment of at-risk populations and better resource allocation before and after extreme events.
A Method for the Crack-Free Deposition of Pure Tungsten Using Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing
202505971 // Energy and Utilities // Manufacturing
Oak Ridge National Laboratory has developed a new wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) technique that enables the crack-free deposition of pure tungsten metal. Tungsten is a critical material for applications such as plasma-facing components in fusion reactors but is notoriously difficult to process due to its brittleness. This method overcomes those challenges, allowing a layer of tungsten to be deposited without cracking. The innovation supports improved component repair and fabrication, reducing downtime and maintenance costs for advanced energy and industrial systems.
Semi-Solid-State Composite Electrolytes with High Entropy Li-garnet
202505856 // Transportation // Materials
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Pennsylvania State University have developed a novel semi-solid-state composite electrolyte for lithium metal batteries. Designed to address the challenges of low conductivity and poor dendrite resistance in conventional polymer electrolytes, this composite offers improved ion transport and interfacial stability. The innovation enhances battery safety, performance, and cycling life, supporting next-generation energy storage systems for electric vehicles and other high-performance applications.
Method for Synthesizing Organometallic Nanofibers
202405694 // Materials // Energy and Utilities
This invention introduces a approach for integrating the properties of organic and inorganic compounds into a one-dimensional nanoscale unit as a organometallic nanofibers without the need for complex synthesis environments. Traditional methods often require moisture-controlled or high-vacuum systems, which limit scalability and increase cost. This technique enables nanofiber synthesis with tunable physical and chemical characteristics under standard ambient conditions, offering a more accessible, scalable process for generating fibers suited to a variety of applications in materials science and advanced manufacturing.
To learn more about these technologies, email partnerships@ornl.gov or call
865-574-1051.
|
|
|
|
|
