Energy Storage

Advancing the development of affordable and reliable energy storage solutions

Quick facts

  • LLNL researchers carry out fundamental and applied research in electrical, chemical, and thermal energy storage.
  • Our battery research spans several different battery types, including solid-state, lithium ion, lithium metal, sodium ion, flow, and more.
  • We are also establishing a modeling-guided design and optimization framework to accelerate the advancement of next-generation energy storage technologies, tailored for a variety of applications.
Lawrence Livermore researchers are exploring graphene-based materials for use as supercapacitor electrodes. Pictured here is a sample microarchitectured graphene aerogel.

Realizing cost-effective and efficient renewable energy grid storage has long been a challenge for scientists and engineers. Next-generation technology needs require energy storage systems with much larger storage capacities, rapid charge/discharge capabilities, and improved lifetimes. Progress in these areas demands a more complete understanding of energy storage processes at atomic and micron length scales.
Lawrence Livermore researchers have developed innovative approaches to address these key challenges. Our research efforts span a range of topics across electrical, chemical, and thermal energy storage:

  • Understanding the underlying physics and chemistry of energy storage systems
  • Identifying the properties and function of materials used for energy storage
  • Controlling the synthesis, processing, and architecture design of new energy storage devices with optimized functionality

Our researchers have developed—and continue to maintain—unique capabilities aimed at furthering our understanding in these topic areas. These capabilities include:

  • Multiscale, multiphysics modeling to inform targeted design and optimization
  • Closely coupled theory and experimental feedback loops to accelerate the development of new materials systems
  • 3D printing to rapidly prototype unique architectures
  • Laser processing for fast, tunable material fabrication

Research focus areas

LEAF researchers apply their unique expertise in four main focus areas:

cross cutting research icon

Cross-cutting research

Our research in general energy storage also supports our efforts to improve hydrogen storage systems.

Learn more about carbon management research at LLNL

Contacts

Wan, Sabrina
Sabrina Wan
Wood, Marissa
Marissa Wood