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The Glenn T. Seaborg Center

The Heaviest Elements

The nuclear and chemical properties of the heaviest elements are explored at LBNL. Investigations of transactinide element (Z>103) chemistry are being conducted, and new techniques are being developed to facilitate these studies. Research is performed to improve the production of heavy element isotopes, with development of new types of targets for use at heavy ion accelerators. Microfluidic liquid-liquid extraction systems that have the potential to revolutionize the field are being pursued.

Schematic of Sg(CO)6 in the gas phase interacting with the gradient thermochromatographic detector system that established its formation via alpha-particle decay upon adsorption. [J. Even. H. Nitsche et al., Science 345, 1491 (2014)].

Mission

The core mission of the Glenn T. Seaborg Center at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is basic research to understand fundamental heavy element chemical interactions in complex systems at the molecular level and across multiple length scales. We seek knowledge on the important processes and materials related to fundamental f-element science, rare-earth elements and actinides in the environment, and to nuclear chemistry and materials. Accompanying this core mission is the education and training of future leaders in the field of f-element science.

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