University of Houston joins DOE’s new hub advancing battery technology

The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced a $125 million investment for the creation of two Energy Innovation Hubs aimed at addressing pressing battery challenges and fostering next-generation technological advancements, including safety and high-energy density batteries made from abundant materials. The University of Houston (UH) is part of one such hub, the Energy Storage Research Alliance (ESRA).

Advancements in energy storage are essential for a clean energy future, enhancing grid reliability, optimizing renewable energy usage, reducing emissions, and supporting electric transportation growth.

ESRA comprises nearly 50 researchers from three national laboratories and 12 universities, including UH. Yan Yao, the Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor at UH's Cullen College of Engineering and principal investigator at the Texas Center for Superconductivity, serves as deputy lead of ESRA’s soft matter scientific thrust.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Yao. “To collaborate with world-class experts to understand and develop new science and make discoveries that will lead to the next generation of batteries and energy storage concepts.”

The project is led by Argonne National Laboratory with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory as co-leaders.

“The demand for high-performance, low-cost, sustainable energy storage devices is on the rise,” said Shirley Meng, ESRA director. “Energy storage technology must reach unprecedented performance levels to deeply decarbonize heavy-duty transportation and the electric grid.”

Leveraging decades of national investment in basic sciences, ESRA aims to enable transformative discoveries in materials chemistry and electrochemical phenomena at the atomic scale. The hub focuses on three interconnected scientific thrusts: liquids, soft matter, and condensed matter phases.

Yao’s team is known globally for creating next-generation batteries using low-cost organic materials. They have previously utilized quinones synthesized from plants like maize or soybean to enhance battery performance.

Pieremanuele Canepa will serve as co-principal investigator alongside Yao. Joe Powell will create a community benefit plan and develop an energy equity course.

“New energy infrastructure can have benefits and burdens for communities,” Powell stated. “Understanding potential issues is critical.”

Claudia Neuhauser expressed pride in UH’s participation in ESRA: “This partnership testifies to our commitment to sustainable energy solutions.”

Collaboration among national laboratories and universities is crucial for discovering new materials, accelerating technology development, and commercializing new technologies. Achieving ESRA’s goals could lead to safer high-energy batteries with long-duration storage capabilities made from inexpensive materials.

“To fuel innovation... all entities must work together,” said Ramanan Krishnamoorti.

The DOE will provide up to $62.5 million over five years for ESRA funding.

“Providing the scientific foundation...is key,” said Harriet Kung.

Further details about ESRA can be found in the Argonne press release.