This database organizes energy storage researchers and technology developers by the potential applications of their work: from cordless power tools to grid storage. Use the links below to navigate to the different energy storage application areas. Use the legend below to quickly assess the type of energy storage (electrochemical, mechanical, molecular/energy carriers, or thermodynamic/thermal) each investigator focuses on, as well as the technology readiness (on a scale from 01 to 05) of their work.
Navigation Links (left) + Legend (right)
Energy Storage Applications
Energy Storage Types
Technology Development Scale
Aerospace
Song Jin
Francis J. DiSalvo Professor of Physical Science, Chemistry + Materials Science and Engineering
Electrocatalysis, electrochemical energy storage, electrochemical devices, materials chemistry
Research and technology development focus
- Electrocatalyst synthesis, characterization, and applications
- Redox flow batteries and solar flow batteries
- The use of energy storage materials for mediated electrochemical reactions
Lab capabilities
- Synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials and solid-state materials
- Electrochemistry and electrochemical devices
- in situ and operando characterizations, solar measurements
Chu Ma
Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering + Mechanical Engineering
Energy system diagnosis and protection
Research and technology development focus
- Ultrasound non-destructive testing of energy systems
- Functional materials for protecting energy systems from impacts/vibrations
Lab capabilities
- Ultrasound non-destructive testing transducers, transducer arrays, and controlling systems over a wide range of frequencies
James Pikul
Leon and Elizabeth Janssen Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Electrochemical energy storage for aircraft, long-distance transportation, and robots
Research and technology development focus
- High specific energy and liquid batteries
- Multifunctional materials
- Energy dense and adaptable robots that eat, breath, and heal
Lab capabilities
- Electrode and cell fabrication; transport modeling; electrochemical characterization; mechanical testing; and materials synthesis, design, and integration
Marcel Schreier
Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Fundamental insight into electrochemistry for energy storage and sustainable synthesis
Research and technology development focus
- Electrocatalysis / Fundamental Electrochemistry
- Interface structure and thermodynamics
- Electrolyte dynamics and properties
- Energy Storage / Sustainable Synthesis
Lab capabilities
- Electrocatalyst development, Advanced In-Situ capabilities,
Real-time product analysis, Catalyst design, Electrolyte synthesis
Sage Kokjohn
Phil and Jean Meyers Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Cell-level modeling of electrochemical energy storage and CFD modeling of battery thermal runaway
Research and technology development focus
- Experimental analysis of lithium ion battery thermal runaway / fires
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation of lithium ion battery fires
- System level modeling of lithium ion batteries
Lab capabilities
- CFD tools for simulation complex flows with detailed chemistry
- Combustion analysis
Luca Mastropasqua
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Long-duration energy storage in energy-dense defossilized molecules enables industrial decarbonization
Research and technology development focus
- Electrochemical production of hydrogen and hydrogen-derivatives energy carriers (ammonia, methanol, DME) for long-duration storage and fuels
- Electrochemical CO2 capture and conversion of waste streams to valuable products to produce fossil fuel-like renewable synthetic molecules
- Utilization and techno-economics of decarbonized molecules in industrial applications (steel, cement, data centers, chemicals)
Lab capabilities
- Characterization and testing of fuel cells and electrolyzers
- Fabrication of novel materials and electrochemical devices
- Scale-up and computational analysis of energy systems
Pavana Prabhakar
Charles Salmon Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering + Civil and Environmental Engineering
Enabling damage tolerant and durable polymer composites and structures for fuel storage
Research and technology development focus
- Design and manufacturing of polymer composites for fuel (cryogenic) tanks
- Failure mechanics of polymer composites in multi-physics environments
- Additive manufacturing of polymer composites
Lab capabilities
- Thermoplastic and thermoset 3D printing, filament winding, textile weaving, in-situ sub-zero mechanical testing (fatigue, dynamic impact)
- Multi-physics and material failure modeling at the continuum scale
Return to top
Automotive
Styliani Avraamidou
Bluemke Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Modeling, optimization, and assessment tools for transitions in energy systems
Research and technology development focus
- Mathematical optimization models for energy systems analysis
- Infrastructure planning and operational scheduling of energy systems
Lab capabilities
- System and supply chain modeling and optimization
- Economic, Life Cycle, and Circular Economy Assessment
- Mathematical Optimization algorithms: Game theory, multi-level optimization, and optimization under uncertainty
Song Jin
Francis J. DiSalvo Professor of Physical Science, Chemistry + Materials Science and Engineering
Electrocatalysis, electrochemical energy storage, electrochemical devices, materials chemistry
Research and technology development focus
- Electrocatalyst synthesis, characterization, and applications
- Redox flow batteries and solar flow batteries
- The use of energy storage materials for mediated electrochemical reactions
Lab capabilities
- Synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials and solid-state materials
- Electrochemistry and electrochemical devices
- in situ and operando characterizations, solar measurements
Sage Kokjohn
Phil and Jean Meyers Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Cell-level modeling of electrochemical energy storage and CFD modeling of battery thermal runaway
Research and technology development focus
- Experimental analysis of lithium ion battery thermal runaway / fires
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation of lithium ion battery fires
- System level modeling of lithium ion batteries
Lab capabilities
- CFD tools for simulation complex flows with detailed chemistry
- Combustion analysis
Fang Liu
Assistant Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Materials and devices for energy storage through high-throughput experimentation
Research and technology development focus
- Develop battery materials for electric vehicles, electric grids, and aerospace applications
- High throughput experimentation for energy material discovery
Lab capabilities
- Material design and synthesis, electrochemical testing and advanced characterizations
- Develop high-throughput experimentation platforms and novel manufacturing methods for battery manufacturing and testing
Chu Ma
Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering + Mechanical Engineering
Energy system diagnosis and protection
Research and technology development focus
- Ultrasound non-destructive testing of energy systems
- Functional materials for protecting energy systems from impacts/vibrations
Lab capabilities
- Ultrasound non-destructive testing transducers, transducer arrays, and controlling systems over a wide range of frequencies
Dane Morgan
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Computational materials design
Research and technology development focus
- Computational materials design, molecular simulation, machine learning
- Ionic transport, battery cathode design, solid oxide electrochemical cell electrodes/electrolytes
Lab capabilities
- Molecular simulations, machine learning, oxygen conductivity/surface exchange experiments (conductivity relaxation)
Pavana Prabhakar
Charles Salmon Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering + Civil and Environmental Engineering
Enabling damage tolerant and durable polymer composites and structures for fuel storage
Research and technology development focus
- Design and manufacturing of polymer composites for fuel (cryogenic) tanks
- Failure mechanics of polymer composites in multi-physics environments
- Additive manufacturing of polymer composites
Lab capabilities
- Thermoplastic and thermoset 3D printing, filament winding, textile weaving, in-situ sub-zero mechanical testing (fatigue, dynamic impact)
- Multi-physics and material failure modeling at the continuum scale
Marcel Schreier
Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Fundamental insight into electrochemistry for energy storage and sustainable synthesis
Research and technology development focus
- Electrocatalysis / Fundamental Electrochemistry
- Interface structure and thermodynamics
- Electrolyte dynamics and properties
- Energy Storage / Sustainable Synthesis
Lab capabilities
- Electrocatalyst development, Advanced In-Situ capabilities,
Real-time product analysis, Catalyst design, Electrolyte synthesis
Matthew Gebbie
Conway Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Creating next-generation electrolytes and interfaces for energy storage and electrocatalysis
Research and technology development focus
- Discovery and characterization of ionic liquids and advanced organic electrolytes for safe batteries and beyond lithium-ion battery chemistries
- Electrolyte design to enable supercapacitors in extreme environments
- Electrochemical recycling of pollutants, including CO2 and NO3
Lab capabilities
- In situ analysis of interfaces and functional materials, synthesis of electrolytes, nano-materials, composite materials, electrochemical analysis of dynamic soft materials
Eric Kazyak
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Operando characterization and materials design for electrochemical systems
Research and technology development focus
- In situ and operando characterization, metal and air electrode interfaces
- Beyond-Li battery materials discovery and modification with process control, atomic layer deposition, and 3-D structuring
- Battery abuse and safety testing
Lab capabilities
- Electrode and cell fabrication in argon atmosphere, cell cycling, 3-D microscopy, impedance, cell abuse/combustion, atomic layer deposition
Siddarth Krishna
Duane and Dorothy Bluemke Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Heterogeneous catalysis for sustainable chemistry
Research and technology development focus
- Heterogeneous catalyst design
- Catalytic H2 storage in liquid carriers
- Sustainable chemistry
Lab capabilities
- Catalyst synthesis, in situ characterization (including synchrotron techniques)
- Batch and flow catalytic reactors, kinetic and mechanistic studies
Whitney Loo
Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering
Polymers for a sustainable future
Research and technology development focus
- Polymer electrolytes
- Solid state batteries, Li metal
- Molecular level ion transport and ion solvation
- Polymer physics
Lab capabilities
- Polymer synthesis
- Pouch cell fabrication
- Solid-state electrochemical characterization
- X-ray and neutron scattering
Luca Mastropasqua
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Long-duration energy storage in energy-dense defossilized molecules enables industrial decarbonization
Research and technology development focus
- Electrochemical production of hydrogen and hydrogen-derivatives energy carriers (ammonia, methanol, DME) for long-duration storage and fuels
- Electrochemical CO2 capture and conversion of waste streams to valuable products to produce fossil fuel-like renewable synthetic molecules
- Utilization and techno-economics of decarbonized molecules in industrial applications (steel, cement, data centers, chemicals)
Lab capabilities
- Characterization and testing of fuel cells and electrolyzers
- Fabrication of novel materials and electrochemical devices
- Scale-up and computational analysis of energy systems
James Pikul
Leon and Elizabeth Janssen Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Electrochemical energy storage for aircraft, long-distance transportation, and robots
Research and technology development focus
- High specific energy and liquid batteries
- Multifunctional materials
- Energy dense and adaptable robots that eat, breath, and heal
Lab capabilities
- Electrode and cell fabrication; transport modeling; electrochemical characterization; mechanical testing; and materials synthesis, design, and integration
David Rothamer
Robert Lorenz Professor, Engine Research Center Director, Mechanical Engineering
Application and development of advanced optical/laser diagnostics for energy storage systems
Research and technology development focus
- Destructive battery testing
- Application of laser-diagnostics to chemically reacting systems
- Development of novel optical/laser diagnostics to study energy systems
Lab capabilities
- High-speed optical and laser-diagnostics equipment
- Engine research facilities including altitude simulation capability
Shiyu Zhou
Vilas Distinguised Achievement Professor, Industrial and Systems Engineering
Data-driven monitoring, diagnosis, and prognosis for batter systems
Research and technology development focus
- Statistical and machine learning approaches for system degradation condition monitoring, diagnosis, and prediction
- Condition based maintenance and system operation optimization
Lab capabilities
- Multiple computational servers; customized data analytics algorithms for system monitoring and control
Return to top
Cordless Power Tools
Eric Kazyak
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Operando characterization and materials design for electrochemical systems
Research and technology development focus
- In situ and operando characterization, metal and air electrode interfaces
- Beyond-Li battery materials discovery and modification with process control, atomic layer deposition, and 3-D structuring
- Battery abuse and safety testing
Lab capabilities
- Electrode and cell fabrication in argon atmosphere, cell cycling, 3-D microscopy, impedance, cell abuse/combustion, atomic layer deposition
James Pikul
Leon and Elizabeth Janssen Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Electrochemical energy storage for aircraft, long-distance transportation, and robots
Research and technology development focus
- High specific energy and liquid batteries
- Multifunctional materials
- Energy dense and adaptable robots that eat, breath, and heal
Lab capabilities
- Electrode and cell fabrication; transport modeling; electrochemical characterization; mechanical testing; and materials synthesis, design, and integration
Whitney Loo
Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering
Polymers for a sustainable future
Research and technology development focus
- Polymer electrolytes
- Solid state batteries, Li metal
- Molecular level ion transport and ion solvation
- Polymer physics
Lab capabilities
- Polymer synthesis
- Pouch cell fabrication
- Solid-state electrochemical characterization
- X-ray and neutron scattering
Marcel Schreier
Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Fundamental insight into electrochemistry for energy storage and sustainable synthesis
Research and technology development focus
- Electrocatalysis / Fundamental Electrochemistry
- Interface structure and thermodynamics
- Electrolyte dynamics and properties
- Energy Storage / Sustainable Synthesis
Lab capabilities
- Electrocatalyst development, Advanced In-Situ capabilities,
Real-time product analysis, Catalyst design, Electrolyte synthesis
Return to top
Electronic Equipment
Eric Kazyak
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Operando characterization and materials design for electrochemical systems
Research and technology development focus
- In situ and operando characterization, metal and air electrode interfaces
- Beyond-Li battery materials discovery and modification with process control, atomic layer deposition, and 3-D structuring
- Battery abuse and safety testing
Lab capabilities
- Electrode and cell fabrication in argon atmosphere, cell cycling, 3-D microscopy, impedance, cell abuse/combustion, atomic layer deposition
Whitney Loo
Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering
Polymers for a sustainable future
Research and technology development focus
- Polymer electrolytes
- Solid state batteries, Li metal
- Molecular level ion transport and ion solvation
- Polymer physics
Lab capabilities
- Polymer synthesis
- Pouch cell fabrication
- Solid-state electrochemical characterization
- X-ray and neutron scattering
James Pikul
Leon and Elizabeth Janssen Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Electrochemical energy storage for aircraft, long-distance transportation, and robots
Research and technology development focus
- High specific energy and liquid batteries
- Multifunctional materials
- Energy dense and adaptable robots that eat, breath, and heal
Lab capabilities
- Electrode and cell fabrication; transport modeling; electrochemical characterization; mechanical testing; and materials synthesis, design, and integration
Fang Liu
Assistant Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Materials and devices for energy storage through high-throughput experimentation
Research and technology development focus
- Develop battery materials for electric vehicles, electric grids, and aerospace applications
- High throughput experimentation for energy material discovery
Lab capabilities
- Material design and synthesis, electrochemical testing and advanced characterizations
- Develop high-throughput experimentation platforms and novel manufacturing methods for battery manufacturing and testing
Allison Mahvi
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Thermal energy storage technologies
Research and technology development focus
- Development of thermal energy storage devices for applications ranging from electronics cooling to HVAC thermal management
- System level analysis and optimization of thermal equipment with integrated thermal energy storage
Lab capabilities
- Experimental flow loops to evaluate performance of TES devices
- Modeling tools to predict device and system performance
Marcel Schreier
Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Fundamental insight into electrochemistry for energy storage and sustainable synthesis
Research and technology development focus
- Electrocatalysis / Fundamental Electrochemistry
- Interface structure and thermodynamics
- Electrolyte dynamics and properties
- Energy Storage / Sustainable Synthesis
Lab capabilities
- Electrocatalyst development, Advanced In-Situ capabilities,
Real-time product analysis, Catalyst design, Electrolyte synthesis
Return to top
Grid Storage
Styliani Avraamidou
Bluemke Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Modeling, optimization, and assessment tools for transitions in energy systems
Research and technology development focus
- Mathematical optimization models for energy systems analysis
- Infrastructure planning and operational scheduling of energy systems
Lab capabilities
- System and supply chain modeling and optimization
- Economic, Life Cycle, and Circular Economy Assessment
- Mathematical Optimization algorithms: Game theory, multi-level optimization, and optimization under uncertainty
Matthew Gebbie
Conway Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Creating next-generation electrolytes and interfaces for energy storage and electrocatalysis
Research and technology development focus
- Discovery and characterization of ionic liquids and advanced organic electrolytes for safe batteries and beyond lithium-ion battery chemistries
- Electrolyte design to enable supercapacitors in extreme environments
- Electrochemical recycling of pollutants, including CO2 and NO3
Lab capabilities
- In situ analysis of interfaces and functional materials, synthesis of electrolytes, nano-materials, composite materials, electrochemical analysis of dynamic soft materials
Eric Kazyak
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Operando characterization and materials design for electrochemical systems
Research and technology development focus
- In situ and operando characterization, metal and air electrode interfaces
- Beyond-Li battery materials discovery and modification with process control, atomic layer deposition, and 3-D structuring
- Battery abuse and safety testing
Lab capabilities
- Electrode and cell fabrication in argon atmosphere, cell cycling, 3-D microscopy, impedance, cell abuse/combustion, atomic layer deposition
Fang Liu
Assistant Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Materials and devices for energy storage through high-throughput experimentation
Research and technology development focus
- Develop battery materials for electric vehicles, electric grids, and aerospace applications
- High throughput experimentation for energy material discovery
Lab capabilities
- Material design and synthesis, electrochemical testing and advanced characterizations
- Develop high-throughput experimentation platforms and novel manufacturing methods for battery manufacturing and testing
Luca Mastropasqua
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Long-duration energy storage in energy-dense defossilized molecules enables industrial decarbonization
Research and technology development focus
- Electrochemical production of hydrogen and hydrogen-derivatives energy carriers (ammonia, methanol, DME) for long-duration storage and fuels
- Electrochemical CO2 capture and conversion of waste streams to valuable products to produce fossil fuel-like renewable synthetic molecules
- Utilization and techno-economics of decarbonized molecules in industrial applications (steel, cement, data centers, chemicals)
Lab capabilities
- Characterization and testing of fuel cells and electrolyzers
- Fabrication of novel materials and electrochemical devices
- Scale-up and computational analysis of energy systems
James Pikul
Leon and Elizabeth Janssen Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Electrochemical energy storage for aircraft, long-distance transportation, and robots
Research and technology development focus
- High specific energy and liquid batteries
- Multifunctional materials
- Energy dense and adaptable robots that eat, breath, and heal
Lab capabilities
- Electrode and cell fabrication; transport modeling; electrochemical characterization; mechanical testing; and materials synthesis, design, and integration
Marcel Schreier
Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Fundamental insight into electrochemistry for energy storage and sustainable synthesis
Research and technology development focus
- Electrocatalysis / Fundamental Electrochemistry
- Interface structure and thermodynamics
- Electrolyte dynamics and properties
- Energy Storage / Sustainable Synthesis
Lab capabilities
- Electrocatalyst development, Advanced In-Situ capabilities,
Real-time product analysis, Catalyst design, Electrolyte synthesis
Mike Wagner
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Optimization of electricity systems
Research and technology development focus
- Optimal dispatch of energy storage technologies
- Impact of storage utilization on degradation
- Thermal energy storage technologies
Lab capabilities
- 100 kW microgrid with integrated PV, Regenerative Grid Simulator
Dawei Feng
Assistant Professor, Materials Science and Engineering + Chemistry
Aqueous batteries for grid energy storage
Research and technology development focus
- Design, synthesis of electrode and electrolyte materials for aqueous batteries targeting grid energy storage
Lab capabilities
- Materials synthesis and electrochemical characterizations
Song Jin
Francis J. DiSalvo Professor of Physical Science, Chemistry + Materials Science and Engineering
Electrocatalysis, electrochemical energy storage, electrochemical devices, materials chemistry
Research and technology development focus
- Electrocatalyst synthesis, characterization, and applications
- Redox flow batteries and solar flow batteries
- The use of energy storage materials for mediated electrochemical reactions
Lab capabilities
- Synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials and solid-state materials
- Electrochemistry and electrochemical devices
- in situ and operando characterizations, solar measurements
Siddarth Krishna
Duane and Dorothy Bluemke Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Heterogeneous catalysis for sustainable chemistry
Research and technology development focus
- Heterogeneous catalyst design
- Catalytic H2 storage in liquid carriers
- Sustainable chemistry
Lab capabilities
- Catalyst synthesis, in situ characterization (including synchrotron techniques)
- Batch and flow catalytic reactors, kinetic and mechanistic studies
Steve Loheide
Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering + Geological Engineering
Pumped storage hydropower: Environmental consequences and co-benefits
Research and technology development focus
- Ecohydrology; groundwater-ecosystem interactions
- Agrivoltaics
- Pumped storage hydropower; downstream and in-reservoir ecosystem services
Lab capabilities
- Field studies and numerical modeling of hydrologic and ecologic systems
Dane Morgan
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Computational materials design
Research and technology development focus
- Computational materials design, molecular simulation, machine learning
- Ionic transport, battery cathode design, solid oxide electrochemical cell electrodes/electrolytes
Lab capabilities
- Molecular simulations, machine learning, oxygen conductivity/surface exchange experiments (conductivity relaxation)
Doug Reindl
Professor + Director, Mechanical Engineering + Industrial Refrigeration Consortium
Expertise in energy systems, refrigeration, HVAC, and cool thermal energy storage
Research and technology development focus
- Expertise in thermal energy storage related to applications in building air conditioning systems
- Industrial, commercial, and refrigeration systems for building air conditioning
Lab capabilities
- Extensive expertise and field experience in refrigeration technologies, cool thermal storage, building mechanical systems, and renewable energy systems
- Modeling and simulation of energy systems, HVAC, refrigeration, and cool thermal energy storage
- Thermal Storage Applications Research Center (TSARC)
Eric Tervo
Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering + Mechanical Engineering
Development of solid-state thermal energy conversion devices that can pair with energy storage
Research and technology development focus
- Solid-state converters of heat to electricity and electricity to heat, including thermophotovoltaics, thermoelectrics, electroluminescent coolers, and others that can complement thermal energy storage and high temperature systems
Lab capabilities
- Electrical, optical, and thermal characterization of materials and devices
- Growth and fabrication of III-V semiconductor materials and devices
Return to top
Industrial
Mark Anderson
Consolidated Papers Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Energy systems and efficiency
Research and technology development focus
- Advanced power cycles – sCO2
- Advanced reactor designs
- High temperature instrumentation and process equipment
Lab capabilities
- Thermal hydraulic testing of components (molten salts, Liquid metals, gases and water)
- Corrosion testing and monitoring
- Fabrication of test fixtures
- Numerical modeling (CFD, FEA)
- High temperature high pressure systems
Dawei Feng
Assistant Professor, Materials Science and Engineering + Chemistry
Aqueous batteries for grid energy storage
Research and technology development focus
- Design, synthesis of electrode and electrolyte materials for aqueous batteries targeting grid energy storage
Lab capabilities
- Materials synthesis and electrochemical characterizations
Song Jin
Francis J. DiSalvo Professor of Physical Science, Chemistry + Materials Science and Engineering
Electrocatalysis, electrochemical energy storage, electrochemical devices, materials chemistry
Research and technology development focus
- Electrocatalyst synthesis, characterization, and applications
- Redox flow batteries and solar flow batteries
- The use of energy storage materials for mediated electrochemical reactions
Lab capabilities
- Synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials and solid-state materials
- Electrochemistry and electrochemical devices
- in situ and operando characterizations, solar measurements
Siddarth Krishna
Duane and Dorothy Bluemke Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Heterogeneous catalysis for sustainable chemistry
Research and technology development focus
- Heterogeneous catalyst design
- Catalytic H2 storage in liquid carriers
- Sustainable chemistry
Lab capabilities
- Catalyst synthesis, in situ characterization (including synchrotron techniques)
- Batch and flow catalytic reactors, kinetic and mechanistic studies
Allison Mahvi
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Thermal energy storage technologies
Research and technology development focus
- Development of thermal energy storage devices for applications ranging from electronics cooling to HVAC thermal management
- System level analysis and optimization of thermal equipment with integrated thermal energy storage
Lab capabilities
- Experimental flow loops to evaluate performance of TES devices
- Modeling tools to predict device and system performance
James Pikul
Leon and Elizabeth Janssen Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Electrochemical energy storage for aircraft, long-distance transportation, and robots
Research and technology development focus
- High specific energy and liquid batteries
- Multifunctional materials
- Energy dense and adaptable robots that eat, breath, and heal
Lab capabilities
- Electrode and cell fabrication; transport modeling; electrochemical characterization; mechanical testing; and materials synthesis, design, and integration
Marcel Schreier
Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Fundamental insight into electrochemistry for energy storage and sustainable synthesis
Research and technology development focus
- Electrocatalysis / Fundamental Electrochemistry
- Interface structure and thermodynamics
- Electrolyte dynamics and properties
- Energy Storage / Sustainable Synthesis
Lab capabilities
- Electrocatalyst development, Advanced In-Situ capabilities,
Real-time product analysis, Catalyst design, Electrolyte synthesis
Eric Tervo
Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering + Mechanical Engineering
Development of solid-state thermal energy conversion devices that can pair with energy storage
Research and technology development focus
- Solid-state converters of heat to electricity and electricity to heat, including thermophotovoltaics, thermoelectrics, electroluminescent coolers, and others that can complement thermal energy storage and high temperature systems
Lab capabilities
- Electrical, optical, and thermal characterization of materials and devices
- Growth and fabrication of III-V semiconductor materials and devices
Mike Wagner
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Optimization of electricity systems
Research and technology development focus
- Optimal dispatch of energy storage technologies
- Impact of storage utilization on degradation
- Thermal energy storage technologies
Lab capabilities
- 100 kW microgrid with integrated PV, Regenerative Grid Simulator
Styliani Avraamidou
Bluemke Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Modeling, optimization, and assessment tools for transitions in energy systems
Research and technology development focus
- Mathematical optimization models for energy systems analysis
- Infrastructure planning and operational scheduling of energy systems
Lab capabilities
- System and supply chain modeling and optimization
- Economic, Life Cycle, and Circular Economy Assessment
- Mathematical Optimization algorithms: Game theory, multi-level optimization, and optimization under uncertainty
Matthew Gebbie
Conway Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Creating next-generation electrolytes and interfaces for energy storage and electrocatalysis
Research and technology development focus
- Discovery and characterization of ionic liquids and advanced organic electrolytes for safe batteries and beyond lithium-ion battery chemistries
- Electrolyte design to enable supercapacitors in extreme environments
- Electrochemical recycling of pollutants, including CO2 and NO3
Lab capabilities
- In situ analysis of interfaces and functional materials, synthesis of electrolytes, nano-materials, composite materials, electrochemical analysis of dynamic soft materials
Sage Kokjohn
Phil and Jean Meyers Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Cell-level modeling of electrochemical energy storage and CFD modeling of battery thermal runaway
Research and technology development focus
- Experimental analysis of lithium ion battery thermal runaway / fires
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation of lithium ion battery fires
- System level modeling of lithium ion batteries
Lab capabilities
- CFD tools for simulation complex flows with detailed chemistry
- Combustion analysis
Chu Ma
Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering + Mechanical Engineering
Energy system diagnosis and protection
Research and technology development focus
- Ultrasound non-destructive testing of energy systems
- Functional materials for protecting energy systems from impacts/vibrations
Lab capabilities
- Ultrasound non-destructive testing transducers, transducer arrays, and controlling systems over a wide range of frequencies
Luca Mastropasqua
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Long-duration energy storage in energy-dense defossilized molecules enables industrial decarbonization
Research and technology development focus
- Electrochemical production of hydrogen and hydrogen-derivatives energy carriers (ammonia, methanol, DME) for long-duration storage and fuels
- Electrochemical CO2 capture and conversion of waste streams to valuable products to produce fossil fuel-like renewable synthetic molecules
- Utilization and techno-economics of decarbonized molecules in industrial applications (steel, cement, data centers, chemicals)
Lab capabilities
- Characterization and testing of fuel cells and electrolyzers
- Fabrication of novel materials and electrochemical devices
- Scale-up and computational analysis of energy systems
Doug Reindl
Professor + Director, Mechanical Engineering + Industrial Refrigeration Consortium
Expertise in energy systems, refrigeration, HVAC, and cool thermal energy storage
Research and technology development focus
- Expertise in thermal energy storage related to applications in building air conditioning systems
- Industrial, commercial, and refrigeration systems for building air conditioning
Lab capabilities
- Extensive expertise and field experience in refrigeration technologies, cool thermal storage, building mechanical systems, and renewable energy systems
- Modeling and simulation of energy systems, HVAC, refrigeration, and cool thermal energy storage
- Thermal Storage Applications Research Center (TSARC)
Shannon Stahl
Steenbock Professor of Chemical Sciences, Chemistry + Wisconsin Energy Institute
Electrocatalysis, electrochemical synthesis, and electrochemical energy storage
Research and technology development focus
- Electrocatalyst synthesis, characterization, and applications
- Molecular redox mediators for energy storage/conversion and synthesis
- Non-aqueous (and aqueous) electrochemistry
Lab capabilities
- Heterogeneous and molecular catalyst synthesis and characterization
- Organic synthesis
James Tinjum
Director, Geological Engineering Program + Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Geothermal reservoirs to improve energy efficiency and grid resiliency
Research and technology development focus
- Thermal and energy geotechnics
- Life-cycle analytics and quantified embodied energy
- Campus-scale geothermal exchange systems
Lab capabilities
- Fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing
- Thermal response testing
Shiyu Zhou
Vilas Distinguised Achievement Professor, Industrial and Systems Engineering
Data-driven monitoring, diagnosis, and prognosis for batter systems
Research and technology development focus
- Statistical and machine learning approaches for system degradation condition monitoring, diagnosis, and prediction
- Condition based maintenance and system operation optimization
Lab capabilities
- Multiple computational servers; customized data analytics algorithms for system monitoring and control
Return to top
Renewable / Solar
Mark Anderson
Consolidated Papers Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Energy systems and efficiency
Research and technology development focus
- Advanced power cycles – sCO2
- Advanced reactor designs
- High temperature instrumentation and process equipment
Lab capabilities
- Thermal hydraulic testing of components (molten salts, Liquid metals, gases and water)
- Corrosion testing and monitoring
- Fabrication of test fixtures
- Numerical modeling (CFD, FEA)
- High temperature high pressure systems
Matthew Gebbie
Conway Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Creating next-generation electrolytes and interfaces for energy storage and electrocatalysis
Research and technology development focus
- Discovery and characterization of ionic liquids and advanced organic electrolytes for safe batteries and beyond lithium-ion battery chemistries
- Electrolyte design to enable supercapacitors in extreme environments
- Electrochemical recycling of pollutants, including CO2 and NO3
Lab capabilities
- In situ analysis of interfaces and functional materials, synthesis of electrolytes, nano-materials, composite materials, electrochemical analysis of dynamic soft materials
Song Jin
Francis J. DiSalvo Professor of Physical Science, Chemistry + Materials Science and Engineering
Electrocatalysis, electrochemical energy storage, electrochemical devices, materials chemistry
Research and technology development focus
- Electrocatalyst synthesis, characterization, and applications
- Redox flow batteries and solar flow batteries
- The use of energy storage materials for mediated electrochemical reactions
Lab capabilities
- Synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials and solid-state materials
- Electrochemistry and electrochemical devices
- in situ and operando characterizations, solar measurements
Siddarth Krishna
Duane and Dorothy Bluemke Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Heterogeneous catalysis for sustainable chemistry
Research and technology development focus
- Heterogeneous catalyst design
- Catalytic H2 storage in liquid carriers
- Sustainable chemistry
Lab capabilities
- Catalyst synthesis, in situ characterization (including synchrotron techniques)
- Batch and flow catalytic reactors, kinetic and mechanistic studies
Allison Mahvi
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Thermal energy storage technologies
Research and technology development focus
- Development of thermal energy storage devices for applications ranging from electronics cooling to HVAC thermal management
- System level analysis and optimization of thermal equipment with integrated thermal energy storage
Lab capabilities
- Experimental flow loops to evaluate performance of TES devices
- Modeling tools to predict device and system performance
James Pikul
Leon and Elizabeth Janssen Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Electrochemical energy storage for aircraft, long-distance transportation, and robots
Research and technology development focus
- High specific energy and liquid batteries
- Multifunctional materials
- Energy dense and adaptable robots that eat, breath, and heal
Lab capabilities
- Electrode and cell fabrication; transport modeling; electrochemical characterization; mechanical testing; and materials synthesis, design, and integration
Marcel Schreier
Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Fundamental insight into electrochemistry for energy storage and sustainable synthesis
Research and technology development focus
- Electrocatalysis / Fundamental Electrochemistry
- Interface structure and thermodynamics
- Electrolyte dynamics and properties
- Energy Storage / Sustainable Synthesis
Lab capabilities
- Electrocatalyst development, Advanced In-Situ capabilities,
Real-time product analysis, Catalyst design, Electrolyte synthesis
Eric Tervo
Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering + Mechanical Engineering
Development of solid-state thermal energy conversion devices that can pair with energy storage
Research and technology development focus
- Solid-state converters of heat to electricity and electricity to heat, including thermophotovoltaics, thermoelectrics, electroluminescent coolers, and others that can complement thermal energy storage and high temperature systems
Lab capabilities
- Electrical, optical, and thermal characterization of materials and devices
- Growth and fabrication of III-V semiconductor materials and devices
Mike Wagner
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Optimization of electricity systems
Research and technology development focus
- Optimal dispatch of energy storage technologies
- Impact of storage utilization on degradation
- Thermal energy storage technologies
Lab capabilities
- 100 kW microgrid with integrated PV, Regenerative Grid Simulator
Styliani Avraamidou
Bluemke Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Modeling, optimization, and assessment tools for transitions in energy systems
Research and technology development focus
- Mathematical optimization models for energy systems analysis
- Infrastructure planning and operational scheduling of energy systems
Lab capabilities
- System and supply chain modeling and optimization
- Economic, Life Cycle, and Circular Economy Assessment
- Mathematical Optimization algorithms: Game theory, multi-level optimization, and optimization under uncertainty
Jesse Hampton
Assistant Professor, Geological Engineering + Civil and Environmental Engineering
Using nondestructive evaluation and AI to optimize enhanced geothermal systems
Research and technology development focus
- Nondestructive evaluation and remote sensing
- Artificial intelligence in geological engineering
- Induced seismicity
Lab capabilities
- Fiber-optic distributed acoustic, strain, and temperature sensing
- Experimental poromechanics
- Experimental damage mechanics
Eric Kazyak
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Operando characterization and materials design for electrochemical systems
Research and technology development focus
- In situ and operando characterization, metal and air electrode interfaces
- Beyond-Li battery materials discovery and modification with process control, atomic layer deposition, and 3-D structuring
- Battery abuse and safety testing
Lab capabilities
- Electrode and cell fabrication in argon atmosphere, cell cycling, 3-D microscopy, impedance, cell abuse/combustion, atomic layer deposition
Steve Loheide
Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering + Geological Engineering
Pumped storage hydropower: Environmental consequences and co-benefits
Research and technology development focus
- Ecohydrology; groundwater-ecosystem interactions
- Agrivoltaics
- Pumped storage hydropower; downstream and in-reservoir ecosystem services
Lab capabilities
- Field studies and numerical modeling of hydrologic and ecologic systems
Luca Mastropasqua
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Long-duration energy storage in energy-dense defossilized molecules enables industrial decarbonization
Research and technology development focus
- Electrochemical production of hydrogen and hydrogen-derivatives energy carriers (ammonia, methanol, DME) for long-duration storage and fuels
- Electrochemical CO2 capture and conversion of waste streams to valuable products to produce fossil fuel-like renewable synthetic molecules
- Utilization and techno-economics of decarbonized molecules in industrial applications (steel, cement, data centers, chemicals)
Lab capabilities
- Characterization and testing of fuel cells and electrolyzers
- Fabrication of novel materials and electrochemical devices
- Scale-up and computational analysis of energy systems
Doug Reindl
Professor + Director, Mechanical Engineering + Industrial Refrigeration Consortium
Expertise in energy systems, refrigeration, HVAC, and cool thermal energy storage
Research and technology development focus
- Expertise in thermal energy storage related to applications in building air conditioning systems
- Industrial, commercial, and refrigeration systems for building air conditioning
Lab capabilities
- Extensive expertise and field experience in refrigeration technologies, cool thermal storage, building mechanical systems, and renewable energy systems
- Modeling and simulation of energy systems, HVAC, refrigeration, and cool thermal energy storage
- Thermal Storage Applications Research Center (TSARC)
Shannon Stahl
Steenbock Professor of Chemical Sciences, Chemistry + Wisconsin Energy Institute
Electrocatalysis, electrochemical synthesis, and electrochemical energy storage
Research and technology development focus
- Electrocatalyst synthesis, characterization, and applications
- Molecular redox mediators for energy storage/conversion and synthesis
- Non-aqueous (and aqueous) electrochemistry
Lab capabilities
- Heterogeneous and molecular catalyst synthesis and characterization
- Organic synthesis
James Tinjum
Director, Geological Engineering Program + Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Geothermal reservoirs to improve energy efficiency and grid resiliency
Research and technology development focus
- Thermal and energy geotechnics
- Life-cycle analytics and quantified embodied energy
- Campus-scale geothermal exchange systems
Lab capabilities
- Fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing
- Thermal response testing
Return to top
Other
–Buildings–
Allison Mahvi
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Thermal energy storage technologies
Research and technology development focus
- Development of thermal energy storage devices for applications ranging from electronics cooling to HVAC thermal management
- System level analysis and optimization of thermal equipment with integrated thermal energy storage
Lab capabilities
- Experimental flow loops to evaluate performance of TES devices
- Modeling tools to predict device and system performance
–Heavy-duty, off-road, marine–
David Rothamer
Robert Lorenz Professor, Engine Research Center Director, Mechanical Engineering
Application and development of advanced optical/laser diagnostics for energy storage systems
Research and technology development focus
- Destructive battery testing
- Application of laser-diagnostics to chemically reacting systems
- Development of novel optical/laser diagnostics to study energy systems
Lab capabilities
- High-speed optical and laser-diagnostics equipment
- Engine research facilities including altitude simulation capability
Return to top