Chemistry researchers receive IREE large grant

Department of Chemistry scientists, Associate Professor Philippe Buhlmann and Professor Andreas Stein, have received an Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment (IREE) large grant to work on high energy density, nanostructured supercapacitors for electrical energy storage. They will be working with Professor William Smyrl from Chemical Engineering and Materials Science.

The researchers' energy project was one of five to receive an Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment (IREE) large grant. Their grant is $695,000. IREE's large grants support integrated, multi-disciplinary research teams for up to three years.

Funding for IREE grants comes from Xcel Energy's Renewable Development Fund and Conservation Improvement Program. Recipients are chosen by a national team of judges based on scientific and technical merit; the potential for major breakthroughs on national and global scales; alignment with Minnesota's competitive advantages; a strong interdisciplinary approach; and a clear business plan and exit strategy for securing future support.

Both the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and Materials Science are part of the College of Science and Engineering.

Read the complete Institute on the Environment news release on its website.