Rosen, Cortez Masto Announce $500,000 in Grant Funding to UNR for Research into Energy Storage

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) released the following statement applauding a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to the University of Nevada, Reno, to be used for research into the electro-chemical behavior of materials used in lithium-ion batteries and other energy storage containers and devices.
 
“In order to create a clean and energy-efficient future for Nevada, we must invest in research that allows for breakthrough discoveries,” said the Senators. “This grant awarded to the University of Nevada, Reno will be used to develop next-generation battery cells and energy storage technologies through a better understanding of the materials and components involved in order to safely store energy. We will continue to support programs that uplift science and innovation in the Silver State.”
 
BACKGROUND: The NSF awarded this Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) grant of $500,000 to the University of Nevada, Reno, which supports fundamental research on the mechanics and its coupling with electrochemical processes in high-capacity electrodes and their interfaces. Lithium-ion batteries are highly efficient energy storage devices that have transformed personal electronics and enabled the market introduction of electric vehicles. The effort will lead to the discovery of electrochemical degradation mechanisms in electrodes and guide their design, ultimately enabling the development of high-capacity electrodes and benefitting the US economy.

Both Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto are co-sponsors of the BEST Act (S. 1602), legislation that would increase research & development in grid-scale energy battery storage technologies and also create demonstration projects to test the performance and reliability of energy storage systems.

###