Initiated and renewed a $2M 3-year Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences (DOE-BES) funded program aimed at developing a predictive understanding of how molecular interactions at complex interfaces may be exploited to promote highly-efficient and selective separation of critical minerals. Distinguishing one-of-a-kind capabilities enable precise control over the nature of matter to prepare extremely well-defined model systems consisting of graphene oxide laminate adsorbents and membranes with precisely-sized interlayer transport channels and functionalized electrodes with selected redox-active species and hydrophobic ionic liquid domains. Novel in situ characterization techniques provide molecular-level insight into the properties and behavior of well-defined materials at conditions relevant to real world separations.Led a $150K Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) funded program focused on understanding the role of surface and intermolecular interactions on the vibrational properties of magnetically-doped polyoxometalates which determine their suitability as molecular qubits for quantum computing. Distinguishing ion soft landing and spectroscopy capabilities allow the influence of elemental doping and surface interactions to be investigated with unprecedented “atom-by-atom” resolution.Directed a $135K LDRD funded program aimed at developing ion soft landing as a highly-controlled sample preparation method for cryo-electron microscopy. Mass spectrometry capabilities allow mass-selection of large multiply-charged protein assemblies from complex mixtures and deposition at high coverage onto microscopy grids for detailed structural characterization.Contributed to a $80K Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR) funded task focused on using ion soft landing combined with in situ spectroelectrochemistry to understand the interactions of isolated battery components with electrode surfaces.

Originated a $660K 3-year LDRD funded program aimed at elucidating structure-reactivity relationships in supported alloy nanoparticles and clusters for electrocatalysis and energy storage. Employed soft landing of mass-selected ions combined with characterization by electron spectroscopy, microscopy, and electrochemistry techniques. Developed multi-magnetron sputtering and gas aggregation for the synthesis and deposition of complex alloy nanoparticles and clusters for catalytic applications. Led a $200K 3-year DOE-BES funded project investigating the synthesis, stability, and electronic properties of ligated gold clusters employing electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, surface-induced dissociation, soft landing of mass selected ions, ion mobility spectrometry, and theoretical electronic structure calculations.

Directed a $732K 3-year LDRD funded program investigating the molecular-level processes that influence the preparation of catalytic materials by soft and reactive landing of mass-selected polyatomic ions and metal clusters onto surfaces.

Contributed to a DOE-BES Condensed Phase Interfacial and Molecular Science (CPIMS) funded project aimed at characterizing how composition, size, and charge state influence the ability of metal oxides to promote catalytic oxidation reactions used in industrial chemical production and pollution abatement. Calculated molecular structures and energy profiles for cluster reactions in collaboration with theoretical chemistry/molecular modeling groups at the Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany (Prof. Vlasta Bonacic-Koutecky) and Virginia Commonwealth University (Prof. Shiv Khanna).

Used inductively-coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to measure metal contamination in waste streams. Determined amine content of activated carbon used in filters employing gas-chromatography (GC) and ion-mobility spectrometry (IMS). Managed quality program, maintained A2LA accreditation, planned work schedules, and interfaced with customers.

Contributed to a Nation Science Foundation funded project by constructing, maintaining, and operating a novel custom-built high pressure flow conductivity cell used to measure how temperature and pressure influence the dissociation constants of salts in supercritical solutions relevant to the degradation of pipes and accumulation of scale in industrial and power generation facilities.