Ragone Laboratory

Ragone Laboratory
Name	Ragone Laboratory
Established	1950s
Location	United States
Director	Peter T. Krein
Affiliation	Cornell University
Fields	Materials science; Energy storage; Chemical engineering

Ragone Laboratory is an applied research facility specializing in energy storage and materials science with historical roots in mid-20th-century American engineering. The laboratory is associated with a major Ivy League institution and has influenced developments in battery technology, fuel cells, and electrochemistry through collaborative programs and translational research. Its work intersects with industrial partners, federal laboratories, and international consortia, shaping innovations adopted by companies, national laboratories, and standards bodies.

History

The laboratory traces origins to postwar expansions in Cornell University engineering programs and the rise of interdisciplinary centers during the Cold War era. Early decades saw links to projects funded by the Office of Naval Research, the National Science Foundation, and the United States Department of Energy, reflecting national priorities in power systems and strategic materials. Faculty leadership over time included prominent scholars who previously held appointments at institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and University of California, Berkeley. During the late 20th century the lab broadened collaborations to include industrial partners like General Electric, Ford Motor Company, and ExxonMobil and engaged with national laboratories including Argonne National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Research Focus

Research concentrates on advanced battery chemistries, fuel cell architectures, capacitive storage, and the materials underpinning those technologies. Programs emphasize solid-state electrolytes, lithium-based systems, alternative ion chemistries, and polymeric membranes, connecting to work at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The laboratory also pursues studies in electrode microstructure, interfacial phenomena, degradation mechanisms, and life-cycle analysis, contributing to discussions in venues like the Electrochemical Society and the Materials Research Society. Applied edges include grid-scale storage, electric vehicle powertrains, and portable electronics, aligning with initiatives such as the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy and the U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium.

Facilities and Equipment

Facilities include wet chemistry suites, glovebox systems, glovebox-integrated X-ray diffraction instruments, and inert-atmosphere fabrication lines. Characterization tools cover transmission electron microscopy formerly affiliated with centers like the National Center for Electron Microscopy, scanning electron microscopes with energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy used across collaborations with SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. Electrochemical workbenches and battery cyclers, impedance spectroscopy rigs, and differential scanning calorimetry units support kinetics and thermal stability testing. The laboratory maintains pilot-scale cells, roll-to-roll processing apparatus, and custom environmental chambers used in conjunction with partners such as NECTAR and industrial consortia.

Notable Projects and Contributions

The laboratory contributed to early comparative studies of energy and power metrics that influenced later standardized reporting and benchmarking frameworks used by the Department of Transportation and automotive manufacturers. Investigators published influential data on electrode porosity and transport that fed into modeling platforms developed at Argonne National Laboratory and MIT Lincoln Laboratory. Projects included prototype solid-state cells, high-rate capacitors trialed with Siemens, and fuel-cell membrane optimization in projects partnered with Ballard Power Systems. The lab played roles in national consortia addressing rare-earth and critical mineral substitution, interfacing with programs at U.S. Geological Survey and regulatory dialogues involving the United States Senate energy committees.

Collaborations and Partnerships

The laboratory maintains academic ties with institutions such as University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, Georgia Institute of Technology, Princeton University, University of Michigan, and Columbia University. Industry partnerships span multinational firms and startups, including collaborations with Toyota Research Institute, Tesla, Inc., Dow Chemical Company, and venture-backed startups in the energy sector. Cooperative agreements with federal entities have included projects with National Renewable Energy Laboratory and NASA technology transfers. International collaborations link to research groups at University of Cambridge, ETH Zurich, Tsinghua University, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, and the Imperial College London energy materials programs.

Education and Outreach

The laboratory supports graduate training, postdoctoral fellowships, and undergraduate research under advisors who hold appointments in departments such as Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering at its host university. It organizes seminars, workshops, and short courses in partnership with organizations like the Electrochemical Society and the IEEE Power Electronics Society, and it hosts visiting scholars from institutions including Harvard University and Yale University. Outreach includes K–12 pipeline programs conducted with local school districts and public demonstrations at regional science festivals in coordination with entities such as the American Chemical Society.

Awards and Recognition

Researchers affiliated with the laboratory have received honors from professional societies including the Electrochemical Society, the Materials Research Society, and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Faculty and alumni have been named to national academies such as the National Academy of Engineering and received awards like the E. O. Lawrence Award, the Perkin Medal, and society fellowships from institutions including Royal Society of Chemistry and IEEE. The laboratory’s publications and patents have been cited in standards and regulatory guidance developed by agencies including the U.S. Department of Transportation and international standards organizations.

Category:Research laboratories Category:Energy research institutions