The US Department of Energy has announced $118 million in funding for ten Energy Frontier Research Centers, bringing together world-class teams of scientists to perform groundbreaking fundamental research in nine states. Since 2009, these centers have accelerated scientific advances underlying energy technologies by developing powerful new tools and training the next-generation workforce.
According to Harriet Kung, Acting Director of the DOE Office of Science, “fundamental research in areas such as advanced manufacturing, microelectronics, and quantum technologies is critical for generating foundational knowledge that underpins technologies important for DOE and the nation.”
The funded projects will advance basic science for microelectronics, quantum information science, and environmental management, led by institutions including Purdue University, University of Delaware, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. These research centers will focus on areas such as power electronics, plastics innovation, ion dynamics, and magnonics, with the goal of fostering a cleaner and more energy-efficient future.
Advancing Energy Technologies through Fundamental Research
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $118 million in funding for ten Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs), which will bring together world-class teams of scientists to perform groundbreaking fundamental research in nine states. Since 2009, EFRCs have been instrumental in accelerating scientific advances underlying energy technologies by developing powerful new tools for characterizing, understanding, modeling, and manipulating matter.
The funded projects span a range of areas, including microelectronics, quantum information science, manufacturing, and environmental management. These multidisciplinary scientific teams will advance the basic science for advanced manufacturing, including polymers and co-design of materials and processes to revolutionize fabrication science for microelectronics and quantum information science. The funding also supports research in environmental management of nuclear waste tanks.
The EFRCs are designed to bring together diverse, world-class teams of scientists to perform basic research that accelerates groundbreaking scientific advances underlying energy technologies. These centers not only develop new tools and techniques but also train the next-generation scientific workforce by attracting talented students passionate about energy science.
Strengthening Understanding of Advanced Manufacturing
One of the key areas of focus for the EFRCs is advanced manufacturing, including polymers and co-design of materials and processes to revolutionize fabrication science for microelectronics and quantum information science. The Center for Power Electronics Materials and Manufacturing Exploration at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, CO, will explore new materials and manufacturing techniques for power electronics.
The Center For Plastics Innovation at the University of Delaware in Newark, DE, will focus on developing sustainable plastics that can be easily recycled or upcycled. The Institute for Cooperative Upcycling of Plastics at Ames Laboratory in Ames, IA, will investigate new methods for upcycling plastics to reduce waste and promote sustainability.
Quantum Information Science and Microelectronics
Another area of focus is quantum information science and microelectronics. The Quantum Photonic Integrated Design Center at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, will develop new design tools and techniques for integrating photonic and electronic components on a single chip.
The Center for 3-Dimensional Ferroelectric Microelectronics Manufacturing at Pennsylvania State University in University Park, PA, will explore new methods for fabricating ferroelectric materials for microelectronic devices. The Center for Molecular Quantum Transduction at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL, will investigate the use of molecular systems for quantum transduction.
Environmental Management and Nuclear Waste Tanks
The EFRCs will also focus on environmental management, including the management of nuclear waste tanks. The Ion Dynamics in Radioactive Environments and Materials at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, WA, will study the behavior of ions in radioactive environments to improve our understanding of nuclear waste tank corrosion.
Training the Next-Generation Scientific Workforce
A key aspect of the EFRCs is training the next-generation scientific workforce. The centers will attract talented students passionate about energy science and provide them with opportunities to work alongside world-class scientists on cutting-edge research projects.
The funding for these EFRCs demonstrates the DOE’s commitment to supporting fundamental scientific research that generates knowledge to enable future energy technologies and other national priorities such as microelectronics and quantum information science. The Office of Science is the lead federal agency supporting scientific research for energy and the largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences.
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