Pure science does fascinate, but it is the application that most people recognize.
At the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, nine scientists have made fascinating applications. The Federal Laboratory Consortium recently recognized their contributions with the FLC Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer. Each year, FLC presents 30 federal laboratory employees with awards for developing innovative processes and products, then bringing the technology to the private or public sector. Vacuum process for manufacturing lithium polymer batteries Researchers John Affinito and Mark Gross developed a vacuum process that deposits and bonds thin polymer films to be used in the fabrication of batteries. Team member Laura Silva negotiated the maze of licensing, patent and contract agreements between Pacific Northwest, industry and the U.S. government.