Milestones and Innovations
The Center for Nanoscale Materials (CNM), a U.S. Department of Energy user facility at Argonne National Laboratory, leverages world-class tools and capabilities to unlock new science and technological frontiers. Take a look back at our milestones and game-changing innovations.
2023
![Colorful montage of person working at laptop superimposed over graphs, building, and models.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_59.jpg?1707772905)
![Illustration of machines, ribbon w/diagrams, models, and graphical profile of human.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_60.jpg?1707772905)
![Model illustration with silver net of connected spheres and a single purple sphere with arrow.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_61.png?1707772905)
![Illustration of car, truck, and plane alongside cube illustration representing battery layers.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_62.jpg?1707772905)
2022
![Grid of white arrows pointing in all directions over multi-colored background.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_56.jpg?1707772905)
![Woman seated at lab desk smiling at camera.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_57.jpg?1707772905)
![Graphical illustration: white wave, blue shape, translucent red cube, "floating" over yellow and pink plane.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_58.jpg?1707772905)
2021
![Silver and red molecular model.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_53.png?1707772905)
![Violet, aqua, and pink model illustration demonstrating X-ray effects.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_54.jpg?1707772905)
![Masked and goggled woman working over table full of equipment, with many emitting green light.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_55.jpg?1707772905)
2020
![Grayscale closeup of squiggly-formed spheres.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_49.jpg?1707772905)
![Red illustration of brain on blue background.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_50.jpg?1707772905)
![Illustration of patterned groups in deep magenta, red, peach, beige, blue, and white forming a 3-D cube with scale on right corresponding to colors.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_51.jpg?1707772905)
![Hands over work surface full of many cloth swatches, sewing tools, and mask sample.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_52.jpg?1707772905)
2019
![Graphical diagram showing recycling intent.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_45.jpg?1707772905)
![Abstract composition of closeup of scientific equipment and reflections.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_46.png?1707772905)
![Closeup of many sized blue spheres, each comprised of tiny spheres.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_47.jpg?1707772905)
![White dimensional rings with center ring pierced by glowing coral rod. White glowing rods and light sparkles nearby.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_48.png?1707772905)
semiconductor quantum rings.This property may find application in quantum information storage, communication, and computing in future technologies.
2018
![Large telescope in snowy landscape.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_41.jpg?1707772905)
![Skyscraper windows in golden sunlight.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_42_0.jpg?1707772905)
![White, gray, blue, yellow, and red hexagonal model shapes over orange honeycombed background.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_43.jpg?1707772905)
![Two goggled scientist in white lab coats and gloves. One is holding capped glass tube of dark substance.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_44.jpg?1707772905)
2017
![Black sponge in blue water.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_38.jpg?1702907574)
![Grayscale image of raised letter "a" over uneven striped background.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_39.jpg?1702907574)
![Grayscale surface of star-shapes in repeating pattern.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_40.jpg?1702907574)
2016
![Two blue-gloved people reaching forward touching equipment.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_35.jpg?1702907574)
![Closeup, showcasing colorful areas of magenta, violet, red, aqua, blue, orange, yellow, and green.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_36.jpg?1702907574)
photonic crystalsat CNM and the Advanced Photon Source revealed what gives butterfly wings their color.
![Closeup of droplets on blue background reflecting grids.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_37.jpg?1702907574)
2015
![Five smiling people in front of colorful wall mural.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_31.jpg?1702907574)
superlubricity.The discovery went on to win a 2016 TechConnect Award.
![Grayscale closeup of 3 views of curling particles.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_32.jpg?1702907574)
![Gold, red, and teal molecular model.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_33.jpg?1702907574)
![Blurry diagonal striations of purple, blue, and white.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_34.jpg?1702907574)
2014
![Closeup of rust.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_25.jpg?1702907574)
![Four goggled men in lab, smiling at camera. One holds small square in tweezers.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_26.jpg?1702907574)
![Silver-toned molecular model.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_27.jpg?1702907574)
![Blue and white sound waves.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_28.jpg?1702907574)
![Two goggled men in suits displaying purple box.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_29.jpg?1702907574)
![Five people admiring large piece of scientific equipment.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_30.jpg?1702907574)
2013
![Juxtaposition of Picasso woman in green with antique paint can.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_20.jpg?1702907574)
![Closeup of solar panels with sun flare.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_21.jpg?1702907574)
![Closeup of coral-colored crystals.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_22.jpg?1702907574)
![Closeup of grid on green disc.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_23.jpg?1702907574)
![View of Capitol Building from across Reflecting Pool.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_24.jpg?1702907574)
2012
![LEED silver medallion](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_18.jpg?1702907574)
![Two men wearing safety goggles surrounded by equipment.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_19.jpg?1702907574)
2011
![Closeup showcasing blue swirls.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_16.jpg?1702907574)
![Man and woman smiling at camera in front of equipment.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_17.jpg?1702907574)
2010
![Closeup of red nanoparticles.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_14.jpg?1702907574)
![Group of people with students wearing red T-shirts, smiling upwards toward camera.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_15.jpg?1702907574)
2009
![Closeup of researcher wearing glasses being reflected in equipment.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_10.jpg?1702907574)
magnetic tornadoes— magnetic vortices found in some nanoparticles that can be controlled by annealing a magnetic layer to an antiferromagnetic one.
![Beige, coral, indigo, and white imaging model.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_11.jpg?1702907574)
![Woman in front of computer screen adjusting microscope lens.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_12.jpg?1702907574)
![Goggled man peering through opening in equipment.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_13.jpg?1702907574)
2008
![Closeup of man in safety goggles holding chips with large tweezers.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_08.jpg?1702907574)
oxide scales.Based on the study, researchers helped to develop and scale up batches of chromium alloys.
![Blue US map with 5 locations highlighted.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_09.jpg?1702907574)
2007
![Man walking on sidewalk towards white and glass building.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_00.jpg?1702907574)
![Man leaning on white railing of atrium balcony.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_04.jpg?1702907574)
![Two men wearing safety goggles working on microscopes.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_05.jpg?1702907574)
![Smiling man in blue shirt and safety goggles amidst equipment.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_06.jpg?1702907574)
![Closeup of blue cables with blue and yellow lights.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_07.jpg?1702907574)
Carbon,> made the Top 500 list of the world’s fastest computers.
2006
![White and glass building exterior.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_02.jpg?1702907574)
![Six people cutting yellow ribbon.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_03.jpg?1702907574)
2005
![Man holding plaque.](/img/timeline/cnm_timeline_01.jpg?1702907574)