The Chemical Sciences Division supports the characterization of new, diverse, and technological critical materials. The constant evolution of material science and technology challenge existing methods of metrology and lead to an evolving development and application of improved analytical methods. Our measurement capabilities for chemical compositional characterization are applied to detect elemental signatures, quantify elemental mass, and map its physical distribution. Researchers from across NIST, industry, academia, government are assisted by the application of state-of-the-art techniques, often uniquely available in our Division. The breadth of application supports most program areas involving chemical science metrology.
This program seeks to continually enhance the analytical competence of MML and other major operating units at NIST. Furthermore, the program makes available technical capabilities that U.S. industry and government need in their quest to compete on a global scale through improving methods and abilities, assisting in the research and development of new products, subsequently bringing them safely into the marketplace.
We collaborate with other NIST divisions and external researchers to provide chemical compositional measurements in the development of reference materials or research samples of interest. Often, this has required the development of improved abilities for accurate analyses. In other situations entirely new analytical measurement systems are required to achieve the necessary metrological goals. In support of NIST Initiatives and the analytical needs of the nation we have successfully addressed materials problems representing diverse needs while increasing our analytical competence. Examples of recent focus areas include unique quality control support of industrial materials, support of academic research into lithium batteries, development of new instruments targeted to support NIST initiatives and America Competes, and reference materials.