Berkeley Electrochemical Research Council
The Berkeley Electrochemical Research Council (BERC) performs and oversees
research on advanced rechargeable batteries and fuel cells. BERC manages
the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Batteries for Advanced Transportation
Technologies (BATT) Program, which is the
electrochemical research arm of the DOE Office of Vehicle
Technologies. BERC utilizes the scientific facilities of the Ernest Orlando
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)
and the University of California, and
coordinates research at other institutions, in the search for electrochemical
power sources that are suitable for electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as
other exciting applications. Our goal is to develop high-performance
electrochemical technologies that are low cost, long lived and environmentally
safe. Research projects encompass most aspects of electrochemical science,
including:
- electrochemical processes and engineering
- mathematical modeling of electrochemical systems
- use of powerful analytic techniques for the in situ study of electrodes
- development of new materials and new electrochemical cell components.
Graduate student education is an important component of BERC, and some BERC
investigators are faculty in the University of California Berkeley Departments
of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Mineral Engineering.
Prospective students should contact the appropriate campus department
regarding admission. Links to home pages that describe BERC research activities
follow:
Mathematical Modeling of Electrochemical Systems - Professor John S. Newman and Dr. Venkat Srinivasan: advanced
mathematical modeling of electrochemical processes
Electrode Kinetics and Electrocatalysis
- Dr. Philip N. Ross:
surface-science approach to link electrode surface properties to cell
behavior, and the development of new electrocatalysts for fuel cells
Electrode Surface Layers - Dr. Robert Kostecki: use of
modern optical techniques to characterize electrode surface layers
Cell and Component Characterization
- Dr. Vince Battaglia: fabrication
and characterization of rechargeable lithium batteries, studies of thin-film
electrodes
Electrode Preparation and Characterization - Dr. Marca Doeff and Dr. Thomas Richardson: development
and characterization of novel electrode materials
Advanced Electrolytes -
Professor Nitash
Balsara and Dr. John Kerr: design, synthesis,
and characterization of novel polymer electrolytes and liquid nonaqueous
electrolytes for use in lithium batteries.
Solid Electrolyte Systems -
Professor Lutgard
C. DeJonghe: new components for electrochemical cells using solid
electrolytes
Advanced Electrode Research -
Professor Elton J. Cairns: characterization of new
electrodes and other cell components for high-performance rechargeable
batteries and fuel cells.
Corrosion and Thermal Modeling -
Professors Thomas Devine
and James
W. Evans: Corrosion processes and thermal modeling of
high-performance batteries
NOTICE: BERC
provides limited grants to support travel to
electrochemical meetings in the U.S.