Oak Ridge National Laboratory is Fueling Innovation
Nestled in the hills of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) boasts a legacy as dynamic as the atom itself – while serving the future by helping new companies like SkyNano grow and innovate.
ORNL’s research, technology transfer, workforce development and economic impact have played a crucial role in building and shaping a diverse and innovative energy sector in Tennessee. It acts as a catalyst for progress, attracting talent and resources to the region, while also supporting the growth of clean energy solutions for a more sustainable future.
Dawn of the Atomic Age
ORNL’s story begins in the throes of World War II. In 1943, a top-secret research facility called Clinton Laboratories (codenamed X-10) played a critical role in the Manhattan Project, the intensive effort to develop the world’s first atomic bomb.
Today, ORNL continues as a research facility and multifaceted scientific powerhouse. It houses Frontier, the world’s fastest supercomputer. Research in the fields of nuclear energy and national security has grown to include the development of clean energy solutions. ORNL also tackles pressing global challenges like developing new medical treatments and safeguarding the environment for future generations.
SkyNano is a success story with links to ORNL. Following its creation in 2017, SkyNano was located at Vanderbilt University, Innovation Crossroads at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Spark Innovation Center at the University of Tennessee Research Park.
SkyNano uses electrochemistry to turn captured carbon dioxide gas into useful building blocks – tiny tubes of carbon called nanotubes. These nanotubes are strong, flexible and conduct electricity, and they can be used in products ranging from batteries to building materials.
Pursuit of the Future
SkyNano’s innovative use of advanced manufacturing processes for clean energy applications made the company a natural fit for the first cohort of ORNL’s Innovation Crossroads.
The two-year fellowship program leverages ORNL’s unique scientific resources and capabilities and connects the nation’s top innovators with experts, mentors and networks in technology-related fields to take world-changing ideas from research and development to the marketplace.
Anna Douglas, SkyNano co-founder and CEO, says ORNL’s support helped her to focus on her company and its technology.
Getting into Innovation Crossroads helped Douglas turn her innovative ideas into a real-world product. While there, she teamed up with experts at ORNL’s Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS), a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science user facility. CNMS is a special lab open to scientists from all over, and it was a great resource for Douglas.
In March, SkyNano opened its new 20,000-square-foot facility in Louisville. The new facility allows for expansion, including additional team members, increased production capacity, further development of the company’s groundbreaking technology and meeting the growing demand for carbon-negative materials.
“SkyNano is really excited about our most recent facility and is grateful for the continued support of our East Tennessee community, which has really rallied behind us as a young science-based technology company,” Douglas says. “This new facility will enable us to hire more talented staff members, scale our operations up and collaborate with partners across a broad range of exciting spaces. We have active collaborations ongoing with the University of Tennessee and are kicking off some great collaborative work with ORNL as well, which has all been enabled by the opportunities our new facilities have afforded us.”
ORNL’s legacy transcends its involvement in a history-shaping project. After the Manhattan Project, the lab underwent a remarkable transformation. Visionary scientists spearheaded a new mission – to harness the power of the atom for peaceful purposes. Pioneering research in nuclear reactor technology followed, with ORNL at the forefront of efforts to develop safe and reliable ways to generate electricity from nuclear energy.
ORNL’s pursuits weren’t confined to reactors. Its research diversified, encompassing a groundbreaking isotope production program, which yielded life-saving medical isotopes used in diagnostic imaging procedures and cancer treatments worldwide.
ORNL’s adaptability is a cornerstone of its success. As national priorities and scientific landscapes shifted, so too did the lab’s focus. When the specter of nuclear proliferation loomed large, ORNL emerged as a leader in securing nuclear materials, safeguarding them from potential misuse. When concerns about energy sustainability intensified, ORNL bolstered its research in renewable energy technologies, seeking alternative solutions to meet growing energy demands.
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