Energy and the Environment

Engineering material solutions for a sustainable future.

Advancements in sustainable materials and energy storage technologies are driving the global transition to clean energy. At the forefront of this transformation, our research teams are developing solutions for a carbon-neutral future. From advanced batteries to green hydrogen production, we’re turning breakthrough concepts into practical, real-world applications.

Areas of Innovation:

Advanced Energy Storage: Developing next-generation energy storage solutions, including advancements in lithium battery technology and high-performance solid-state batteries for safer, more efficient renewable energy storage.
Sustainable Materials Design: Innovating reprocessable polymers to reduce industrial waste and promote recycling.
Clean Energy Innovation: Creating materials for green hydrogen production and solar cells to power a sustainable world.

FEATURED RESEARCH:

Solid-state Lithium Battery Technology

A team of researchers, including Professor and Materials Research Laboratory Director Paul Braun, alongside Department of Materials Science and Engineering collaborators David Cahill, Jessica Krogstad, Nicola Perry and Daniel Shoemaker, secured a $3 million grant from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Construction Engineering Research Laboratory to develop solid-state rechargeable lithium batteries. These batteries provide significant advantages over traditional rechargeable batteries.

"One of the motivations for working on solid-state batteries is that they may have a much longer cycle life, meaning that they'll have less fade over time. Another motivation is they can potentially be significantly higher in energy density. The combination of these advantages has motivated the considerable research in this space."

Professor and Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering Paul Braun

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