Pic Monika Hartl

Monika Hartl

Group Leader for Chemistry and Life Science Support
Scientific Support Division
Science Directorate

Research Activities

My research is quite widely spread. It does center around the use of Neutron Vibrational Spectroscopy for investigation of proton dynamics in materials and in-situ measurements.

Current Projects and Collaborations

RENEWABLE ENERGIES / CATALYSIS
• Synthesis and characterization of modified mesoporous materials for hydrogen storage, CO2 conversion and catalysis. Collaboration with L. Daemen (ORNL, USA).
• Inverse spinells as Li ion conductors for batteries. Collaboration with R. Sacci, L. Daemen, (ORNL)
• Modification of pyrolized biomass. Collaboration with F. Ossler (Combustion physics, LU)

HYDROGEN BONDING (Investigation of proton dynamics in compounds with short hydrogen bonding):
• Synthesis of protonated and deuterated acid-base complexes, determination of their crystal structure and investigation of the proton dynamics in the short hydrogen bonds by comparing IINS spectra to theoretical calculations.
Effect of high-pressure on hydrogen bonding and phase transitions in systems with intramolecular H bonds:
• Synthesis and characterization of known and novel metal(II) and metal(III) hexafluorosilicates using vibrational spectroscopy (IR, IINS) as well as diffraction experiments at varying pressure (XRD, Neutron Powder Diffraction). The hexafluorosilicate anion serves as model compound for the octahedral silicate species found under high pressure in the core of the earth.

NEW MATERIALS FOR HIGH RADIATION AREAS:
• Synthesis of new, potential moderator/reflector materials for the ESS Spallation Physics Group, collaborators: D. Di Julio (ESS), José Ignacio Marquez Damian (ESS)
• Synthesis and characterization of new or enhanced luminescence materials for the ESS/SNS target. Collaboration with the Beam Diagnostics Group, C. Thomas (ESS), T. Shea (ESS), S. Joshi (U. West), S. Bjorklund (U. West).
• Investigation of a suitable catalyst for the ortho-para hydrogen conversion for the ESS moderator. Collaboration with H. Tatsumoto (ESS), Y. Bessler (FZ Jülich), E.B. Iversson (SNS), T. Makoto (JPARC)

ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
• Analysis of ESS target and accelerator cooling water using ICP-Optical Emissions Spectroscopy, UV/Vis spectroscopy as well as resistivity, dissolved oxygen and pH measurements.
• Analysis of the purity of steel, copper, cadmium, concrete and others used for the ESS project.
• Support for gas and liquid analysis (Raman, MS) for the target water loops, He circulator, compressor oil as well as general trouble shooting as needed.
 

 

Selected Publications

Basic research

  • P. Luo et al., Q-dependent collective relaxation dynamics of glass-forming liquid Ca0.4K0.6(NO3)1.4 investigated by wide-angle neutron spin-echo, Nature Comm. 13 (2022) 2092.
  • T. Liu, S. S. Gautam, L.L. Daemen, A.I. Kolesnikov, L.M. Annovitz, M.Hartl, D.R. Cole, Vibrational Behavior of Water Adsorbed on Forsterite (Mg 2 SiO 4 ) Surface, ACS Earth Space Chem. 4(2020)7, 1050-1063.
  • C.R. Kreller et al., Intragranular Phase Proton Conduction in Crystalline Sn 1-x In x P 2 O 7 (x=0 and 0.1), J. Phys. Chem C 121(2017) 23896-23905.
  • C. White, D. Olds, M. Hartl, R. Hjelm, K. Page, Evolution of the pore structure during the early stages of the alkali-activation reaction: An in situ small-angle neutron scattering investigation, J. Appl. Cryst. 50 (2017)1.
  • S. Adak, M. Hartl, L. Daemen, E. Fohtung, H. Nakotte, Study of oxidation states of the transition metals in a series of Prussian blue analogs using x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy, J. Electron. Spectroscop. 214(2016)3.
  • M. Hartl et al., Hydrogen adsorption on two catalysts for the ortho- to parahydrogen conversion: Cr-doped silica and ferric oxide gel, PCCP 18(2016)26.
  • M. Ding, E. Watkins, M. Hartl, L.L. Daemen, Water Signatures and Their Thermal Stability in Bedded Salt for Nuclear Waste Storage: An Incoherent Inelastic Neutron Spectroscopy Study, Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. 2(2015) 150914143252004

Spallation Source related publications

  • V. Santorro et al., HighNESS conceptual design report: Volume II. The NNBAR experiment, Journal of Neutron Research 25 (2024) 7727, 1-92.
  • RJW Frost et al., Preliminary results from a study of luminescent materials—For application in the beam imaging system at the ESS, NIMB 540(2023)227-233.
  • V. Santorro et al., HighNESS conceptual design report: Volume I, Journal of Neutron Research 25 (2023) 3-4, 85-314.
  • H. Tatsumoto et. Al, Design of an in-situ measurement system for ortho and para liquid hydrogen fractions at ESS, IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng. 1240 (2022) 012117.
  • M. Ferrari, A. Zenoni, M. Hartl, et al. Experimental study of consistency degradation of different greases in mixed neutron and gamma radiation, Heliyon 5 (2019)9.
  • R.C. Gillis, T. Bailey, F.X. Gallmeier, M.A. Hartl, E.B. Iverson, Raman Spectroscopy as an ortho-para diagnostic of liquid hydrogen moderators, J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 1021 (2017) 012062.
  • T. Huegle, M. Mocko, M.A Hartl, L.L. Daemen, G. Muhrer, Triphenylmethane, a possible moderator material, Nucl. Instr. Methods in Phys. Res. Sec. A 738 (2014)1-5.
  • G. Muhrer, T. Huegle, M. Mocko, M. Hartl, L.L. Daemen, Material science and chemistry enhancing spallation source design, Neutron News 24 (2013) 24-27.
  •  J Van den Bosch et al., SANS and TEM of ferritic–martensitic steel T91 irradiated in FFTF up to 184 dpa at 413 C, J. nucl. Mat. 440 (2013) 91-97.
     

VESPA / Instrumentation

  • M. Zanetti et al., Neutronic developments on TOSCA and VESPA: Progress to date, Physica B Cond. Mat. 562(2019)
  • R.C. Gillis, Y.Q. Cheng, F.X. Gallmeier, M. Hartl, T. Huegle, E.B. Iverson, A sample holder for simultaneous Raman and neutron vibrational spectroscopy, Rev. Sci. Inst. 89 (2018) 013112.
  • A. Federigo et al., VESPA: The vibrational spectrometer for the European Spallation Source, Rev. Sci. Inst. 87(2016) 065101.
     

 

Career History

  • Group Leader for Chemical and Life-Science Support at ESS (since Jan. 2023)
  • 2018- 2022: Group Leader for Sample and User Laboratory Facilities at ESS
  • 2014- 2018: Scientist in the Materials Group (Target Division) and in the Scientific Activities DIvision at ESS.
  • 2012 -2014: Beamline Scientist on the Filter Difference Spectrometer FDS (IINS, neutron vibrational spectroscopy) and on the Low-Q Diffractometer LQD (small angle neutron scattering) at Lujan Center, LANSCE, Los Alamos National Laboratory.
  • 2006 - 2012: Beamline Scientist on the Low-Q Diffractometer LQD at Lujan Center, LANSCE, Los Alamos National Laboratory.
  • 2003 - 2006:  Postdoctoral Research Associate at Los Alamos National Laboratory: Incoherent Inelastic Neutron Scattering Investigations (IINS) on the Filter Difference Spectrometer FDS at the Lujan Center, LANSCE, Los Alamos National Laboratory. 
  • 2002: Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry “Summa cum laude” at the Leibniz Universität Hannover; Thesis title: “X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy on small inorganic species in complex matrices” Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Peter Behrens
  • 1997: Humboldt Universität zu Berlin: Diploma in Chemistry, Thesis title: “Mixed Precipitation and ion exchange in the system cadmium hexacyanoferrate (II)” Supervisors: Prof. Dr. F. Scholz and Prof. Dr. Stösser
  • 1997: Undergraduate Research Assistant at the Humboldt Universität zu Berlin (Supervisor: Prof. Dr. N. Ernsting): Flash light photolysis experiments to measure transient spectra on a microsecond timescale.
  • 1995: Student Internship at Schering AG Berlin(Department for Quality)