The Berkeley Electrochemical Research Council (BERC) performs and oversees research on advanced rechargeable batteries and fuel cells.  BERC manages the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Batteries for Advanced Transportation Technologies (BATT) Program, which is the electrochemical research arm of the DOE Office of Vehicle Technologies. BERC utilizes the scientific facilities of the Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and the University of California, and coordinates research at other institutions, in the search for electrochemical power sources that are suitable for electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as other exciting applications. Our goal is to develop high-performance electrochemical technologies that are low cost, long lived and environmentally safe. Research projects encompass most aspects of electrochemical science, including:

• electrochemical processes and engineering
• mathematical modeling of electrochemical systems
• use of powerful analytic techniques for the in situ study of electrodes
• development of new materials and new electrochemical cell components.

Graduate student education is an important component of BERC, and some BERC investigators are faculty in the University of California Berkeley Departments of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Mineral Engineering.  Prospective students should contact the appropriate campus department regarding admission. Links to home pages that describe BERC research activities follow:

Mathematical Modeling of Electrochemical Systems – Professor John S. Newman, Dr. Venkat Srinivasan, Dr. Adam Weber, and Dr. Kristin Persson: advanced mathematical modeling of electrochemical processes in batteries, fuel cells, and related systems

Electrode Surface Layers – Dr. Robert Kostecki: use of modern spectroscopic and microscopic techniques to characterize electrode surfaces and surface layers

Cell and Component Characterization – Dr. Vince Battaglia: fabrication and characterization of rechargeable lithium batteries, studies of thin-film electrodes

Electrode Preparation and Characterization – Dr. Marca Doeff , Dr. Guoying Chen, and Dr. Thomas Richardson: development and characterization of novel electrode materials

Advanced Electrode Research – Dr. Jordi Cabana and Professor Elton J. Cairns: characterization of new electrodes and other cell components for high-performance rechargeable batteries and fuel cells.

Advanced Electrolytes - Professor Nitash Balsara, Dr. John Kerr, and Dr. Gao Liu: design, synthesis, and characterization of novel polymer electrolytes and liquid nonaqueous electrolytes for use in lithium batteries and fuel cells.

Solid Electrolyte Systems – Professor Lutgard C. DeJonghe:  new components for fuel cells and batteries using solid electrolytes

Corrosion and Thermal Modeling – Professors Thomas Devine and James W. Evans: Corrosion processes and thermal modeling of high-performance batteries