Expanding Frontiers in Advanced Microscopy: Insights into Steel Corrosion and Solar Cell Failure from In-Situ Liquid-Cell S/TEM and Operando Biasing SEM
Talk given by:
Abstract
Advanced microscopy techniques play a pivotal role in understanding the behavior of energy materials under dynamic and operando conditions. This presentation will provide an overview of the NREL MICRO Group's state-of-the-art capabilities, highlighting their application to critical energy challenges. Leveraging advanced electron and scanning probe approaches, we investigate materials across spatial and temporal scales, employing operando modalities, in-situ studies across, and data-driven analysis tools across length scales to unite nanoscale understanding with macroscale function.
The talk will broadly highlight recent group activities and then dive more in-depth into two compelling examples: (1) in-situ scanning/transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM) of degradation mechanisms in pipeline steel, offering nanoscale insights into corrosion pathways, and (2) operando scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of silicon solar cells under bias, revealing underlying causes of primary failure modes.
The MICRO group seeks to leverage collaboration with our local scientific ecosystem to solve critical challenges in material resilience, reliability, and energy efficiency, leveraging expertise and a suite of advanced tools to push the boundaries of material characterization in support of advancements in renewable energy technologies.
Speaker Bio
Steven Hayden is a materials scientist specializing in advanced microscopy techniques to address critical challenges in degradation science across clean energy technologies. His research focuses on developing innovative microscopy solutions to investigate nanoscale interfaces, catalyst layers, and pore structures in hydrated polymer membranes; unraveling nano-structure-function relationships in solar cells; and identifying degradation mechanisms in composite metals. Steven has extensive expertise in scanning electron microscopy (SEM), focused ion beam (FIB)-SEM, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), including in-situ, cryogenic, and spectroscopic methods.
His diverse research interests span clean energy degradation science, nanoscale imaging and tomography of soft materials, in-situ electron microscopy under operando conditions (liquid, gas, biasing, and heating), nanoscience, plasmonics, catalysis, and solar devices.
Steven brings two decades of experience in applied research and development. Before joining NREL, he served as Director of Research at SME Logistics and as a Senior Research Scientist at the Aramco Americas Boston Research Center, where he focused on advanced energy materials. He also conducted postdoctoral research at the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories) and the University of Heidelberg. Steven holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry & Nanoscience from Georgia Institute of Technology and earned his undergraduate degree in Chemistry and French from Mercer University.
Location and Time
Pietra's Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant
9045 W 44th Ave, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
October 9, 2025 at 6:00pm.
PLEASE RSVP by October 8, 2025 by emailing asmrockymountain@gmail.com!
Meeting Schedule
5:30-6:00pm – Executive Committee Meeting
6:00-6:30pm – Social Time
6:30-7:15pm – Dinner
7:15-8:00pm – Speaker Presentation
OCT 2025 ASM Rocky Mountain Newsletter