About

The Center for Organic Battery Innovation (COBI) at the University of Chicago is pioneering a new frontier in energy storage—building safer, cleaner, and more sustainable batteries from earth-abundant organic materials. Unlike conventional lithium-ion systems that rely on metals that can be difficult to obtain and environmentally damaging, COBI’s batteries are made from elements like carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. These organic compounds significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while opening the door to fully recyclable, non-toxic, and low-cost energy storage solutions.

COBI brings together a dynamic, interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers from UChicago and Argonne National Laboratory. Our researchers are leaders in molecular design, electrochemistry, AI-driven discovery, and battery prototyping. From polymer chemists to computer scientists to business strategists, our team collaborates to push the boundaries of what’s possible—and to translate those breakthroughs into real-world impact.