The Battery Cell R&D Center's 5,891-square-foot dry room will be a cutting-edge facility enabling research and development of next-generation solid-state batteries in an ultra-low humidity environment with dew points as low as -60 °C. This facility will accelerate the development and translation of solid-state batteries from research to practical manufacturing by enabling comprehensive studies of the process in a dedicated assembly environment.
Battery Cell R&D Center
Led by the Institute for Materials and Manufacturing Research, the 22,000-square-foot Battery Center strives to be a leader in electrified mobility, advancing efforts from research to pilot-scale manufacturing. The center will develop next-generation battery cell materials and manufacturing technologies while supporting the transition to electrification. It will also focus on workforce training, including reskilling and upskilling, to advance expertise in battery manufacturing.
A Hub for Collaboration
Fostering collaboration between academia and industry across chemical and physical sciences, engineering, business and policy to influence and inform national energy research agendas.
Opening July 2025
Setting the Stage
2014-2022
The path to the Battery Center began in 2014, when IMR established its Materials and Manufacturing for Sustainability focus area of Ohio State’s Discovery Theme initiative, which enabled IMR to hire a cohort of faculty, including expertise in energy storage. In 2016, IMR launched the Innovation Lab and Energy Storage Hub and, by 2019, energy storage was designated as one of IMR’s Strategic Themes. The concept for the IMR Energy Storage Center was proposed in 2020, followed by the proposal for the Honda–Ohio State Battery Lab and Education Center the next year. In 2022, the Battery Center concept phase was successfully completed, setting the stage for its next steps.
Battery Center Creation Announced
November 2023
Ohio State, Honda, business, state and federal leaders announce partnership for the Battery Center. Initial federal funding through the NIST Extramural Construction program is secured. Foundational partners Honda and Schaeffler commit support.
Center Design and Renovation
2024
Design phase of the Battery Center officially concludes, as renovations of the Carmenton space on Ohio State's West Campus begins.
Coatema and next Machinery Group Partnerships
July 2024
IMR partners with Germany-based Coatema Coating Machinery GmbH and their U.S. distributor next Machinery Group, Inc. to sponsor the acquisition of a cutting-edge equipment line for battery cell coating.
BATTERI Program Launch
August 2024
IMR launches the Battery Center's first funded program, BATTERI, an NSF-funded BATTERI internship program for clean-tech battery manufacturing for the automotive industry.
Grand Opening
July 2025
$29.38M, 22,000-square-foot center is set to open in the Carmenton district of Ohio State's West Campus.
Partner Institutions
Federal funding for the center was provided through the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Extramural Construction program, thanks to the efforts of congressional champions U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and U.S. Reps. Joyce Beatty and Mike Carey. The project was also endorsed by the State of Ohio and JobsOhio.