Applied Materials and Sustainability Sciences (AMSS)

Producing ‘green ammonia’ using plasma will be the focus of a new Princeton : Learn More

Project supported by a 3ドル.6 million National Science Foundation grant

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Experts show routes to recycling carbon dioxide and coal waste into useful : Learn More

A congressionally mandated study led by Professor Emily A. Carter has released a comprehensive roadmap for research and policies to enable large-scale recycling of carbon...

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New Report Lays Out Role for Carbon Dioxide Utilization in U.S. Economy : Learn More

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Our Vision

To help strengthen U.S. competitiveness in key industries, we aim to be a leader in the science and application of low-temperature plasmas, including nanofabrication that enables microelectronics and quantum technologies of tomorrow, and processes to help sustainably decarbonize multiple industries.

[フレーム]

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory is now using its expertise in plasma to serve as an economic driver of innovation — using novel plasma technologies to produce computer chips, advance quantum computing techniques and contribute to a net-zero world.

This video features Emily Carter, Gerhard R. Andlinger Professor in Energy and the Environment at Princeton University and associate laboratory director of applied materials and sustainability sciences and senior strategic advisor for sustainability science at PPPL; Nirbhav Chopra, a graduate student in astrophysical sciences; and John Mark P. Martirez, staff research scientist and deputy advisor for sustainability science. Special thanks to Susan Reslewic Keatley '99 for helping contribute to the questions asked during this interview.

Microelectronics

PPPL is working with the semiconductor industry to develop new ways to fabricate capable, efficient, and cost-effective chips. Industry goals include a major expansion in the type and structure of the materials to be used, which must be implemented with atomic-scale precision.

The Lab’s expertise in low-temperature plasmas, which are used in nearly half of all steps in fabricating computer chips, are helping transform what has been a black-box, Edisonian approach into one based on scientific understanding and engineering control.

Our Partners

Lam Research logo

We're partnering with Lam to simulate a key step in atomic-scale chip fabrication, an increasingly critical process that aims to remove single atomic layers from silicon surfaces, one at a time.

logo for Samsung

Our partnership with Samsung has focused on the etching of computer logic and memory patterns on microscopically thin layers of chips — key applications of plasma in chip fabrication.

logo for Applied Materials

For Applied Materials, we're developing new plasma diagnostics and modeling tools for key processing steps such as atomic-scale etching in microchip manufacturing.

Quantum Materials and Devices

Our researchers are growing quantum diamond, an essential ingredient for advanced quantum sensors and materials, using our low-temperature plasma reactors housed in PPPL's Quantum Diamond Laboratory (QDL). We are exploring the use of diamond-based materials to create alternatives to silicon in the fabrication of microchips and could enable a wholly new type of chip relying on quantum bits, or "qubits," that take the place of standard bits used in silicon-based computers. Qubits could make possible quantum computers that would be far faster and more powerful than computers today. A key goal of our Lab is to enhance qubit production with plasma to advance quantum device fabrication.

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Photoluminescence with above-bandgap excitation in layered diamond

Bringing the World of
Quantum Physics into Light

With Princeton University, we're currently developing a next-generation diamond sensor with capabilities that range from imaging single molecules to guiding aircraft by detecting slight anomalies in the Earth’s magnetic field. This work is supported by a highly competitive three-year, 5ドル.2-million award from the Department of Energy.

Sustainability Science

We're applying our experimental and computational strengths in plasma, engineering, and electrochemical and materials science to contribute to a net-zero world. Our goal is not only to contribute to basic science research, but also bring discoveries to deployment.

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Electromanufacturing

In alignment with many of the Department of Energy’s Earthshot initiatives, we're committed to advancing low-carbon technologies for a sustainable and competitive U.S. manufacturing industry.

Our researchers are investigating ways to replace fossil fuels with electricity, including plasmas, in industrial processes. Our focuses include:

Use of plasma to enhance conversion of natural gas (methane) to hydrogen
Use of plasma or electric heating to produce ammonia from air and hydrogen
Use of electricity to produce useful chemicals and fuel from carbon dioxide

Electricity could more sustainably produce chemicals like hydrogen, ethylene, and ammonia; steel and cement; and even capture and chemically transform carbon dioxide and recycle plastics.

Current Projects

Energy Earthshot Research Center: Hydrogen ShotTM

5ドル million, Lead

Energy Earthshot Research Center: Industrial Heat ShotTM

1ドル million, partner to Oak Ridge National Laboratory

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Aerosol Science for the Climate

Intentionally reflecting the sun's energy back to space could help cool the planet temporarily while we transition off of fossil fuels. Our researchers aim to study how clouds, light, and aerosols — small particles in the air — interact in controlled laboratory conditions, so that we can safely determine the science underpinning such cooling strategies.

Current Projects

Aerosol Dynamics

Gain a better understanding of aerosol-light-cloud dynamics

Aerosol Materials

Research and discovery around new, environmentally benign, scalable aerosol materials that may feature desirable properties for climate intervention science. This includes stratospheric aerosol injection and cirrus cloud thinning