The goal of the Center for Alkaline-Based Energy Solutions (CABES) is to achieve an understanding of the nature, structure, and dynamics of electrocatalysis in alkaline media. Led by Héctor D. Abruña, Chemistry and Chemical Biology, the center involves faculty from several Cornell departments and schools—Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Physics, Applied Engineering and Physics, and Materials Science and Engineering—as well as collaborators from Binghamton, Carnegie Mellon, Pennsylvania State, and Yale Universities; University of Wisconsin; Los Alamos National Laboratory, and National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 

CABES is integrating theory and computational methods for catalysis and interfacial structure and dynamics; synthesis of model electrocatalytic systems with atom-level control and ionically conducting and transporting polymers and membranes in contact with metal electrodes; computational materials science to guide the synthesis of next-generation materials; and the development of experimental tools that will provide in situ and operando spatiotemporal characterization of systems under operation.

CABES aims to advance electrocatalysis in alkaline media by generating the fundamental knowledge required for rational design and development of new materials and architectures, along with experimental and computational tools necessary for, and critical to, a fundamental understanding of these processes. The knowledge base generated by CABES will impact numerous technologies, including alkaline fuel cells, electrolyzers, and all metal and air batteries. The knowledge will support the center’s vision of a highly efficient alkaline-based energy technology for society.

In additional to the U.S. Department of Energy, sponsors of the center include Empire State Development, New York State Energy Research and Development, and Cornell Colleges of Arts & Sciences and Engineering.