Agilent and University of Chicago Launch Center of Excellence for Energy Materials Research

Mike Zhang, Senior vice president and president of Agilent’s Applied Markets Group

“Advancing energy storage research requires both scientific expertise and the analytical capabilities to understand how complex materials behave and change over time.”

Mike Zhang, Senior vice president and president of Agilent’s Applied Markets Group

“By combining the University of Chicago’s interdisciplinary research strengths with Agilent’s advanced instrumentation and applications expertise, this Center will give researchers greater capabilities to investigate these materials, tackle some of the toughest challenges in battery and materials science, and accelerate progress toward new solutions.”

Stuart Rowan, Interim dean of UChicago PME and faculty director for ETI

“The most important questions in energy storage require expertise and tools from across disciplines. This partnership will expand the analytical capabilities available to battery researchers across the University and create new opportunities for faculty, students and trainees to work together. I’m excited that Agilent is helping strengthen the research environment needed to pursue this work across the University of Chicago and beyond.”

Y. Shirley Meng, Liew Family Professor at UChicago PME and co-director of the Energy Transition Network

“Advancing battery research takes more than developing a promising material; we need to understand how materials perform, interact and change throughout a battery’s life.”

Y. Shirley Meng, Liew Family Professor at UChicago PME and co-director of the Energy Transition Network

“The Center will give researchers across the University access to some of the most advanced analysis tools for deciphering the degradations in energy storage and conversion materials and devices.”

Shrayesh Patel, Associate professor at UChicago PME, a deputy director of ETI and director of the Center for Organic Battery Innovation

“The batteries we rely on today depend heavily on materials that can be costly, based on critical minerals, and challenging to recycle.”

Shrayesh Patel, Associate professor at UChicago PME, a deputy director of ETI and director of the Center for Organic Battery Innovation

“At COBI, we’re exploring whether organic materials can offer a different path—one that could make energy storage safer, more affordable, and more sustainable by leveraging earth-abundant elements.”

Shrayesh Patel, Associate professor at UChicago PME, a deputy director of ETI and director of the Center for Organic Battery Innovation

“Expanding the range of materials we can use in batteries is an important part of building a more sustainable energy future.”