The Energy Sciences Institute (ESI), established with a generous gift from Tom Steyer and Katherine Taylor, focuses on the emerging challenges facing the environment and energy sectors. The ESI provides abundant and flexible laboratory space for energy sciences research “under one roof” that promotes collaborative research. Interdisciplinary research in the ESI involves the departments of Chemistry, Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Physics, and Applied Physics.
Research topics include:
 

• Materials for energy production and storage
• Solar fuels
• Catalysts for energy conversion chemistry
• Quantum, light-harvesting, and optical materials
• Energy transport in condensed phase materials
• Quantum optimization for energy
• Methods for characterization of functional materials and catalysts
• Devices for energy applications