US DoE Announces $118 Million for Energy Frontier Research Centers

– Ten Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) designed to bring together world-class teams of scientists to conduct groundbreaking basic research have been funded in nine states by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Since 2009, the EFRC has brought together diverse, world-class teams of scientists to conduct basic research that accelerates breakthrough scientific advances that underpin energy technologies.

These centres develop new tools to characterise, understand, model and manipulate matter, while also training the next generation of scientists by attracting talented students who are passionate about energy science.

“Fundamental research in the areas covered by these awards is critical to generating fundamental knowledge that underpins technologies important to DOE and the nation,” said Harriet Kung, acting director of the DOE Office of Science. “Strengthening our understanding of the chemistry and materials science behind advanced polymer manufacturing, microelectronics, and quantum technologies will support a cleaner, more energy-efficient future.”

The funding brings together multidisciplinary research teams to advance fundamental science for advanced manufacturing, including polymers and co-design of materials and processes, to revolutionize manufacturing science for microelectronics and quantum computing, and environmental management of nuclear waste containers. The funding supports three new and five ongoing four-year awards, and two two-year transitional awards.

The projects, which can last up to four years, are led by six universities and four national laboratories. Together with more than 65 additional partner institutions, they join 33 existing EFRCs that conduct basic science research that generates knowledge that enables future energy technologies and other national priorities such as microelectronics and quantum computing.

Projects include:

Power Electronics Materials Research and Manufacturing Center at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado.

Center for Integrated Quantum Photonic Design at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Center for Plastics Innovation at the University of Delaware in Newark, DE.

Ion Dynamics in Radioactive Environments and Materials at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington.

Institute for Cooperative Plastics Recycling at Ames Laboratory in Ames, Iowa.

Center for Energy-Efficient Magnonics at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Stanford, California.

The Center for Three-Dimensional Ferroelectric Microelectronics Manufacturing at Pennsylvania State University in University Park, PA.

Center for Molecular Quantum Transduction at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL.

Energy Frontier Research Center for Quantum Sensors and Quantum Materials at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Champaign, Illinois.

Ultra Materials for a Resilient and Smart Electric Grid at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.

The projects were selected through a competitive, peer-review process as part of the Department of Energy’s announcement of funding opportunities for energy research facilities.