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September 29, 2023 UMD Home FabLab AIMLab

Energy Consortium promotes science and innovation

Science, discovery and innovation were most definitely the themes at the first Israel-based meeting of the U.S.-Israel Energy Center's battery storage consortium at Bar-Ilan University's Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials this week.

Marking the second time the U.S.-Israel Energy Consortium (UISEC) has convened in person following a June meeting in Maryland, the event brought together prominent academic researchers, cutting-edge entrepreneurs and key government representatives from the U.S. and Israel to accelerate the development of lithium and sodium metal solid-state batteries for advanced energy storage applications - a priority for both nations.

Led by University of Maryland's Prof. Paul Albertus in the U.S. and by Bar-Ilan University's Prof. Malachi Noked in Israel along with their respective teams of incredibly talented co-PIs and dedicated graduate students, the consortium also includes the participation of Saft, Forge Nano, Inc. and Ion Storage Systems from the U.S. and 3DBattery, MaterialsZone and Tel Aviv University from Israel.

After two years of working together (out of a total of five), consortium members had the chance to discuss research milestones; engage with detailed poster presentations; tour the impressive BINA labs of Profs. Noked, Lior Elbaz and David Zitoun where so much of the group's exciting testing is taking place; and form warm personal and professional connections that are the essence of the binational partnership.

During the second day of meetings, participants continued their discussions at consortium member 3DBattery's impressive facilities in Rehovot and headed back north to Tel Aviv University for a tour of Prof. Diana Golodnitsky and Prof. Emanuel Peled's lab.

Many thanks to Dr. Ortal Shalev (PhD) from Bar Ilan University for organizing the three-day event and to the consortium members from the U.S. and Israel for making it exceptionally productive and for infusing momentum into the quest for the ultimate lithium and sodium metal solid-state batteries - a key to helping both countries meet ambitious zero-carbon goals.

Initiated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in partnership with the Israel Ministry of Energy and Israel Innovation Authority, the U.S.-Israel Energy Center is managed by the BIRD Foundation and includes four consortia including the UISEC with the purpose of promoting energy security and economic development through the collaborative research and development of innovative technologies.

For details see: https://lnkd.in/dwbrutU