The Electrochemical Discovery Laboratory (EDL) is managed by the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR), an Argonne led Department of Energy Innovation Hub focused on next-generation batteries. At the EDL, scientists synthesize high-quality materials for testing in beyond-lithium-ion batteries and characterize their properties with state-of-the-art analytical techniques.

These techniques include structural, compositional, and trace analysis probes with the goal of understanding, at atomic and molecular levels, the chemical transformations that occur during battery charging and discharging.

The EDL facility houses a collection of synthetic and electroanalytical laboratories that, together, create a signature research tool for Argonne researchers. With these labs, it is possible to synthesize liquid electrolytes with unparalleled control over water content and other impurities. Scientists also design and characterize solid materials used in electrochemical applications and measure their electrochemical performance. This is achieved through a combination of synthesis tools, structural probes, surface compositional analysis techniques, and trace liquid impurity analysis capabilities.

The integration of these labs provides the ability to synthesize model electrode surfaces that are fully characterized (chemically, structurally, and electronically), and then transfer these surfaces directly into ultrapure electrochemical environments without exposing the materials to the atmosphere – a truly unique capability of the EDL.

At the EDL, collaborators from Argonne and other JCESR institutions are able to make use of the unique synthesis and characterization capabilities that have been developed. These capabilities also serve as an ideal platform for collaborating with theoretical efforts, where precisely tailored experiments can provide unique inputs into computational models in order to better understand the electrochemical behavior of new battery systems.