News Archive

New Cooling Tech Could Curb Data Centers' Rising Energy Demands

June 13, 2025

A new cooling technology could significantly improve the energy efficiency of data centers and high-powered electronics while reducing water use associated with cooling. By passively removing heat through evaporation, it offers a promising alternative to traditional cooling systems. Full Story

A Battery Breakthrough Inspired by a Can of Compressed Air

May 8, 2025

Breakthroughs often begin with simple curiosities. In this Q&A, engineering alumnus Cyrus Rustomji, Ph.D. ’15, reflects on how his ponderings about a can of compressed air, along with support from the university ecosystem and federal funding, fueled an innovation in battery technology that is solving tough challenges for U.S. private and public sectors. Full Story

Thermodynamics-defying Materials Could Revolutionize EVs, Buildings and More

April 16, 2025

What expands when crushed, shrinks when heated, and could both change scientists’ fundamental understanding of materials and return old EV batteries to factory-fresh performance levels? It’s not a riddle. It’s a slate of materials discovered by battery researchers from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (UChicago PME) and visiting researchers at UC San Diego. As part of a long-term research collaboration, the team found negative-thermal expansion in metastable oxygen-redox active materials. Full Story

2025 SPEC Battery Boot Camp Applications Are Open Until April 30, 2025

April 15, 2025

Are you passionate about batteries, renewable energy, and hands-on research experience? Join us this summer for the SPEC Battery Boot Camp — an intensive 8-week training program focused on lithium-ion battery technology! Full Story