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Battery Manufacturing and Recycling Could Go Green With This ‘Glue’

October 9, 2026

A new battery binder — the glue that holds together a battery’s internal parts — could simplify both battery manufacturing and recycling by cutting down on toxic ingredients, energy use and waste. Batteries made with the new binder performed just as well as conventional lithium-ion batteries. Full Story

A Temporary Melting Liquid Could Help Build Better Perovskite Solar Cells and LEDs

October 8, 2026

Researchers developed a new way to make perovskite solar cells — a promising next-generation solar technology — more efficient and durable. Their crystallization technique produced more uniform perovskites with fewer defects, which boosted the performance of lab-made solar cells and LEDs. Full Story

New XPS Instrument at UC San Diego Gives Researchers a Closer Look at Material Surfaces

July 13, 2026

A new XPS machine at the UC San Diego Qualcomm Institute is helping researchers advance work in battery technology, surface coatings and medical devices. Full Story

Spent EV Batteries Get Second Life as Higher-Performance Battery Material

July 1, 2026

Engineers have developed an environmentally-friendly method to upcycle material from spent batteries into higher-performing parts. Their method transforms the cathode from LFP batteries — used in EVs and energy grids — into one that stores more energy. It worked on various types of LFP batteries from different manufacturers. Full Story

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UC San Diego engineers found a short-cut to higher-energy recycled EV batteries

R&D World | July 20, 2026

Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a new method to upcycle cathodes from used lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries into lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP), a material that stores more energy and could offer a more valuable second life for batteries used in electric vehicles and grid storage. The findings were published in Joule. Full Story

Data centers guzzle Arizona's water and power. We calculated how much

Arizona Republic | February 4, 2026

The proliferation of data centers in Arizona raises concerns about the strain on the state's water and power resources. While power is a more immediate concern, the water usage of data centers varies widely depending on their cooling technology. Some data centers have operated for decades using water-intensive evaporative cooling, while others are investing in air-cooled systems. But these systems won't be able to keep up with future data center needs, said Renkun Chen, who researches heat transfer and cooling at the University of California San Diego. Full Story

A Cooler Data Center

American Society of Mechanical Engineers | February 3, 2026

As use of AI increases, the need for data processing and the home that allows it to happen is creating a "surge" in data center construction. That data processing generates tremendous amounts of heat, requiring cooling to prevent failure, and that cooling need accounts for up to 40 to 50 percent of a data center's overall energy use. This growth is expected to increase the total energy consumption used for data center cooling. Research by UC San Diego engineers shows that a new fiber membrane may hold the key to more efficient cooling in data centers. Full Story