STORAGE

03-en-storageIn many applications, the demands for energy from consumers do not match the supply that is produced at a given instant in time. This scenario is especially relevant to the electric grid as renewable energy resources with inherently intermittent supply (e.g., wind and solar power) are integrated into it. Energy storage technology acts as a reservoir that decouples the demand of energy from its supply and enables efficient use of energy. A variety of approaches are being used to store energy, including electrochemical and thermochemical storage. In each of these areas continued research and development is required to enable development of new materials and devices.

 

Areas of Research Focus

The University of Illinois is developing the next generation of energy storage devices through research in engineering and science. These efforts focus on storing renewable energy on the electric grid, enabling electric vehicles with extended range and reduced cost, and storage of thermal energy for enhanced building efficiency to name a few.

Specific projects include:

  • Experimental mechanics of anode intercalation in Li-ion batteries.
  • Microstructure, transport, and techno-economic modeling of Li-ion and flow batteries.
  • Predictive atomistic simulation of battery anode cycling and material behavior.
  • Nanostructured materials for Li-ion batteries.
  • Heat transfer in Li-ion batteries.
  • In situ transmission-electron microscopy of battery active materials.
  • Redox-active polymer flow batteries for grid-scale energy storage.
  • Mg-ion and lithium/sulfur batteries for electric-vehicle energy storage.
  • Building thermal energy storage.
  • Storage of solar energy in molten salts for cooking, other residential uses.
  • Electrolyte degradation in nickel-iron batteries for stationary storage applications.
  • Transportation and storage of spent nuclear fuel.

Researchers

James Allison

James Allison

Electro-thermal system design

Subhonmesh Bose

Subhonmesh Bose

Power and energy systems

Joe A. Bradley

Joe A. Bradley

Product development and design

Marie Charpagne

Marie Charpagne

Alloy design, additive manufacturing

Weng Cho Chew

Weng Cho Chew

Electromagnetics

Shen Dillon

Shen Dillon

Storage materials

Jim Eckstein

Jim Eckstein

Superconducting materials

Elif Ertekin

Elif Ertekin

Thermal materials

Andrew Gewirth

Andrew Gewirth

Electrochemistry

George Gross

George Gross

Power and energy systems

Damien Guironnet

Damien Guironnet

Catalysis

Harley Johnson

Harley Johnson

Electronics and photonics

Harrison Kim

Harrison Kim

Energy systems engineering

Kyekyoon Kim

Kyekyoon Kim

Microelectronics and photonics

Philip Krein

Philip Krein

Power and energy systems

Waltraud M. Kriven

Waltraud M. Kriven

Mechanical properties and materials

Minjoo Lawrence Lee

Minjoo Lawrence Lee

Microelectronics and photonics

Bruce Elliott-Litchfield

Bruce Elliott-Litchfield

Stored solar energy

Jeffrey Moore

Jeffrey Moore

Polymeric materials

Ralph Nuzzo

Ralph Nuzzo

Photovoltaics and catalysis

Kevin O'Brien

Kevin O'Brien

Traditional and alternative energies

Joaquin Rodriguez-Lopez

Joaquin Rodriguez-Lopez

Electrochemistry for energy storage materials

Kyle Smith

Kyle Smith

Fluid dynamics and thermal sciences

Nancy R. Sottos

Nancy R. Sottos

Materials for extreme conditions

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