COBI Scholars Shine Light on Battery Innovation at CERAWeek

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COBI Director Shrayesh Patel presenting on “Engineering Low-Cost, High-Performance Membranes for Flow Batteries.”

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Patel presenting at the Institute’s Innovators Row booth

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Melanie Burns presenting at the Innovators Row booth

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COBI’s Shirley Meng presents on “Advanced Materials with Low-carbon Intensity.”

Center for Organic Battery Innovation (COBI) scholars and affiliates shared new ideas and fostered interdisciplinary connections at the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston, Texas this March. During the weeklong conference, our researchers introduced hundreds of industry leaders to the innovation in the University of Chicago’s labs.

COBI Director Shrayesh Patel gave a talk on “Engineering Low-Cost, High-Performance Membranes for Flow Batteries.” Patel highlighted why membrane design is central to building affordable, reliable systems for storing renewable energy on the grid, and how industry can help scale laboratory membrane innovations. Patel later presented on the Center and the Patel Research Lab’s work at the Institute’s Innovators Row booth, as did COBI Co-Director Doug Weinberg and Managing Director Melanie Burns.

Additionally, COBI Scholar and Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) Professor Shirley Meng joined a panel on “Advanced Materials with Low-carbon Intensity.” Alongside panelists from academia and industry, Meng explored the potential of advanced materials to support energy efficiency, reduce embodied carbon, and further sustainability efforts.