JCESR

JCESR, or the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research, is a U.S. Department of Energy Energy Innovation Hub established in 2012 and led by Argonne National Laboratory. It brings together researchers from national laboratories, universities, and industry to accelerate the development of transformational energy storage technologies.

The hub is organized around five interconnected research pillars: discovery science, new battery chemistries, new materials design, theory and modeling, and system design and integration. This structure supports a cross-disciplinary workflow in which theoretical insight, materials discovery, and device engineering inform each other.

JCESR emphasizes integrated experimentation and computation, including in situ and operando characterization, high-throughput synthesis, and advanced simulation. The goal is to bridge fundamental breakthroughs with practical device design, aiming for higher energy density, longer cycle life, and lower cost compared with conventional lithium-ion batteries.

In its collaboration model, JCESR coordinates a network of partner institutions and industry collaborators to share facilities and data, accelerate discovery, and move promising technologies toward deployment. Its work has contributed to the broader DOE energy storage program by advancing the science and technology base for next-generation batteries.