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We focus on understanding and exploiting materials properties to create efficient, long life, low cost energy storage and generation technologies such as:

  • Alkali-ion intercalation and alloy materials
  • High surface area/nano-structured materials 
  • Catalyst/membrane materials and structures for fuel cells (PEM systems)
  • Solid State Ion conductors for batteries and photoelectrochemical cells 

We also study the economic and policy implications involved with:

  • Batteries for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (including V2G scenarios)
  • Scaled energy storage for grid applications
  • Distributed energy generation and storage technologies
  • The development and entrepreneurship  processes used to bring new technologies to Market

 


ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 

Aquion Energy Scaling to Manufacturing:   A plant site has been selected in Westmoreland county, about 30 miles from Pittsburgh.  Scaled production of batteries will start in 2013. 

Whitacre Delivers TEDx talk at TEDxCMU:  Check back to the TEDxCMU website for a posting of the video

Whitacre Hosts Commerce Secretary John Bryson:  To talk about innovation and domestic manufacturing

Aquion Energy Wins Two Awards in Fall 2011:  Pittsburgh Technology Council "Tech 50" Award:  Best Startup, and the World Technology Council "Best Energy Technology" (awarded at the UN in October 2011).  

Whitacre Awarded Carnegie Mellon Elia Development Chair:  Development chair  given to Professor Whitacre  will offer financial support for two years to encourage more novel research.

Whitacre wins CMU George Tallman Ladd Research Award:  Professor Whitacre has been awarded the 2010 CMU Ladd Award, which is given annualy in recognition of outstanding research and professional accomplishments and potential.  

DoE Announces $5M grant to CMU/Aquion Energy:  Funding is to develop the aqueous sodium ion battery chemistry that has been under study by the Whitacre research group over the past 18 months.  Carnegie Mellon Press Release link.

6 New papers recently accepted to peer review journals: See "publications" link. 

 

 

New Industrial Grant Awarded:  Recently funded proposal will allow for the investigation of low cost battery materials and systems.

DoE Grant Awarded:  Funding is to support the effort in evaluating energy storage solutions for plug-in hybrid vehicles in the context of vehicle - to - grid  (V2G) load sharing.

 

Toyota Award: In partnership with J. Michalek of Mechanical Engineering, Toyota has funded an in-depth study on PHEV performance and driver behavior.  A 2009 Prius with an aftermarket 5 kWh Li-ion battery pack has been purchased and is being outfitted with sensors and computer equipmen