Fusion power
Producing fusion energy is a milestone. Can a complete plant deliver more electricity to the grid than it consumes, repeatedly and with components that survive operation?
Energy systems
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Solid-state batteries
Solid electrolytes promise new battery designs. Can a lithium-metal cell combine high energy, repeated cycling, safe operation, and manufacturability without impractical mechanical pressure?
Lithium–sulfur batteries
Sulfur offers attractive battery capacity, but a practical cell must keep that capacity through many cycles without hiding its weaknesses behind excess electrolyte or lithium.
Artificial photosynthesis
Devices can use sunlight to make fuels. Can direct solar-fuel systems remain efficient, selective, safe, and durable as they grow beyond carefully controlled demonstrations?
Carbon dioxide electrolysis
Electricity can turn carbon dioxide into useful chemicals. Can an electrolyzer do so with durable operation, efficient carbon use, and a favorable whole-system energy and emissions balance?
Perovskite solar module durability
Perovskite solar cells can be highly efficient. Can full modules keep that performance through decades of outdoor light, heat, moisture and partial shading?
Electrochemical ammonia synthesis
Electricity can convert nitrogen into ammonia in the laboratory. Can a process sustain useful production rates with low total energy use and long-lived reactors?
Electrochemical lithium extraction from geothermal brines
Electrochemical cells can selectively recover lithium from geothermal-like brines. Can industrially made electrodes keep that performance during prolonged exposure to hot, impurity-rich feeds?
Direct seawater electrolysis
Can hydrogen production work reliably in the changing conditions of the open ocean?
Low-iridium PEM electrolysis
Can acidic water electrolysers retain efficiency and long operating life while using much less iridium?
Nonthermal atmospheric water harvesting
Ultrasound can extract captured water efficiently. How can sorbent uptake and actuation stay coordinated as moisture loading and humidity change?
Elastocaloric work recovery
Squeezing and releasing a metal can move heat. Recovering the mechanical work must also reduce the electricity used by a complete cooler.
Solar thermochemical heat storage
Sunlight can dry a salt that releases heat when it takes up water again. Can durable pellets do this reliably inside an outdoor reactor?
Structural battery qualification
A structural battery stores energy while carrying load. How can one test sample reliably measure both jobs at once?
Onboard hydrogen storage
Hydrogen tanks already power cars. Can a complete storage system carry enough usable fuel while meeting the weight, space, delivery and lifetime targets together?
Superhot geothermal well integrity
Very hot geothermal wells have been drilled. Can their casing, cement and seals keep working together for a power plant’s lifetime?
Thermophotovoltaic efficiency
A hot surface can feed light to a cell that makes electricity. Can measured conversion exceed 50% while unused light returns to the heat source?
Superconducting aircraft motors
Superconducting coils can make powerful motors lighter, but they need deep cooling. NASA has tested major HEMM components; combining its full power, efficiency and low electromagnetic mass remains the motor target.
Roughness-induced hypersonic transition
A rough patch on a hypersonic heat shield can change a smooth boundary layer into turbulent flow and increase heating. How can engineers predict the onset and heat load from the actual roughness geometry and flight conditions?
Air-breathing electric propulsion
A very low satellite could scoop up the thin atmosphere and use it as electric-thruster propellant. Can the complete intake and thruster provide sustained thrust exceeding their own drag with available onboard power and no steady stored propellant supply?
Pure-water AEM electrolysis
An electrolyzer can make hydrogen without circulating caustic solution. Can its catalyst layers keep conducting ions and releasing gas as their polymer binder ages?
Organic flow-battery lifetime prediction
A charged flow battery can lose capacity while merely waiting. Can a model forecast how much active organic material will remain when its temperature and charging schedule change?