Chunmei Ban

Ban takes next-generation battery research global with Fulbright award

alse6588 — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 19:24:06 +0000

Ban takes next-generation battery research global with Fulbright award alse6588 Tue, 07/14/2026 - 13:24

Alexander Servantez

Chunmei Ban, a professor in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, has received a Fulbright Global Scholar award to explore the future of energy storage through next-generation battery technologies.

The prestigious program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, supports international academic and cultural exchange in the form of multi-regional projects involving research and teaching activities.

The award will support collaborations with researchers in Singapore, the United Kingdom and Germany, where Ban will study safer battery materials, investigate emerging non-lithium battery alternatives and strengthen global partnerships in battery research and education.

“I am extremely grateful for all my collaborators, mentors and students for helping me reach this incredible milestone,” said Ban, who is also affiliated with the Materials Science & Engineering Program. “Our lab group has spent a long time developing and even commercializing electrochemical materials for energy storage. This project is a wonderful opportunity for us to dive deeper into new battery materials and applications.”

Powering the future

The project is built around three central priorities. The first is identifying more sustainable battery materials.

According to Ban, most current battery technologies—including lithium-ion batteries—contain high levels of fluorine that allows them to have improved cycling stability at high operating voltages.

Professor Chunmei Ban and her students in the Ban Surface Science and Engineering Research Group.

However, fluorine compounds often break down when they are exposed to water, creating a highly corrosive acid that can cause both environmental harm and unwanted reactions.

“Can we reduce fluorine content in batteries without sacrificing performance?” Ban asked. “Finding that balance and commercializing those options is one of the key points of the project.”

The second goal is to expand the possibilities of energy storage by exploring battery technologies beyond lithium.

While lithium batteries have their strengths, such as high energy density, Ban says emerging technologies based on different materials could provide other advantages where certain performance characteristics are needed.

“Every battery chemistry has its own properties,” said Ban. “There is no such thing as better or worse. It’s about finding the right battery and the right chemistry for every individual application.”

One promising alternative is sodium-ion technology. Unlike lithium, sodium provides low energy density and is one of the most abundant materials in the world, making it a cost-effective battery option.

By investigating these alternatives and building a more diverse battery landscape that is less dependent on lithium, Ban believes the project can help solve supply chain restrictions, ease geopolitical tensions and better meet the needs of different communities and industries.

Professor and Fulbright awardee Chunmei Ban.

The last goal of the project is education.

During her visits overseas, Ban will lead a series of workshops and talks inviting undergraduate students, graduate students and even scholars to learn more about battery technology.

She hopes to bridge the gap between culture and engineering to inspire student involvement in battery science and encourage collaboration with �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder.

“This is one of my favorite parts of the project because I don’t believe science should have any borders,” Ban said. “We all only have one Earth and it’s our responsibility to work together so we can maintain its health and our own quality of life. To do this, communication is super important, so I’m really excited to lead the charge, open the conversation and start exchanging ideas.”

But it’s not just a chance for Ban to educate others. It’s a chance for her to learn, as well.

“In Germany, I will be visiting a leading manufacturing facility that has done a great job supporting the commercialization of new battery materials, designs and cell configurations,” said Ban. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for me to learn more about the manufacturing process and how we can improve it using AI, machine learning or other advanced tools that we use in our lab on a daily basis.”

Chunmei Ban has received a Fulbright Global Scholar award to explore the future of energy storage through next-generation battery technologies. The award will support collaborations with researchers in Singapore, the United Kingdom and Germany, where Ban will study safer battery materials, investigate emerging non-lithium battery alternatives and strengthen global partnerships in battery research and education.

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Boulder’s Mana Battery is in race to perfect sodium-ion battery technology

Alexander James Servantez — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 18:12:41 +0000

Boulder’s Mana Battery is in race to perfect sodium-ion battery technology Alexander Jame… Mon, 04/07/2025 - 12:12

Associate Professor Chunmei Ban is a co-founder of �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder spinout Mana Battery. The company is at the forefront of a race to provide low-cost batteries with longer lifespans than the market offers today.

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Sustainable Spinouts: Innovation in Action

Alexander James Servantez — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 17:22:08 +0000

Sustainable Spinouts: Innovation in Action Alexander Jame… Fri, 03/21/2025 - 11:22

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder is a hub for sustainable entrepreneurship. Spinouts such as Associate Professor Greg Rieker's LongPath Technologies, Professor Se-Hee Lee's Solid Power and Associate Professor Chunmei Ban's Mana Battery are just some of the university's latest successful ventures motivated by protecting the environment.

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5 �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder startups to watch in 2025

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5 �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder startups to watch in 2025 Alexander Jame… Fri, 01/31/2025 - 11:38

From July 2023 to June 2024, �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder helped to launch 35 new companies based on research at the university—a big tick up from the previous record of 20 companies in fiscal year 2021. Three of these startups were spun by ME professors Chunmei Ban, Gregory Whiting and Svenja Knappe. Take a look at how our faculty are using discoveries from the lab to make a difference in peoples’ lives.

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Pioneering sodium-ion batteries: a sustainable energy alternative

Alexander James Servantez — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 23:16:06 +0000

Pioneering sodium-ion batteries: a sustainable energy alternative Alexander Jame… Fri, 12/13/2024 - 16:16

Associate Professor Chunmei Ban and her research team are exploring the use of sodium-ion batteries as an alternative to lithium-based energy storage. Sodium is widely distributed in the Earth's crust and is an appealing candidate to remedy concerns over resource scarcity with lithium-ion batteries.

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Chunmei Ban

Ban takes next-generation battery research global with Fulbright award

Powering the future

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Boulder’s Mana Battery is in race to perfect sodium-ion battery technology

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Sustainable Spinouts: Innovation in Action

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5 �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder startups to watch in 2025

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Pioneering sodium-ion batteries: a sustainable energy alternative

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5 �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder startups to watch in 2025