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Samantha Johnson, PhD
Computational Scientist
Samantha Johnson, PhD
Computational Scientist
Biography
Developing the ability to store electrical energy from alternative energy sources in chemical bonds so it can be available on demand would represent a breakthrough in electricity distribution. This technology would allow use of renewable energy sources like wind and solar, even if it is not windy or sunny.
Energy storage is one of the research areas of unfolding at PNNL’s Energy Sciences Center. Samantha Johnson is one of the researchers leading that effort.
“We look at the different ways we could store hydrogen,” Johnson said. “How do you store hydrogen in a way that makes it easy to transport, easy to retrieve later, or easy to store?”
Johnson’s primary work in computational chemistry has involved modeling catalysis, whether to understand the mechanisms that drive chemical transformations or to design new catalysts that are better than those that already exist. One potential method would remove hydrogen molecules from ammonia molecules to make nitrogen, creating a transportable liquid.
“We’re looking at lots of different ways we could store hydrogen,” Johnson said, “but a lot of them depend on their use case, especially the season of storage. If you store in the summer for winter use, that will require a different molecular character for the hydrogen to remain stable for a long time.”
Johnson’s work unfolds on PNNL’s supercomputers. She described the work to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm during a 2021 virtual lab tour. “Catalysts and batteries are a big part of our energy landscape,” Johnson told the secretary.
In her spare time, Johnson plays an active role in PNNL’s STEM program.