Dr. Wainright’s research focuses on developing electrochemical power sources including fuel cells, batteries, and supercapacitors. As part of the Electrochemical Engineering and Energy Laboratory in the Department of Chemical Engineering, he has received funding from the Department of Energy to develop iron based flow batteries that can enable grid-level energy storage. Excess energy derived from intermittent renewable sources such as wind and solar can be captured for later use through storage systems; combining wind or solar with storage creates a dispatchable energy supply that maintains grid reliability. The abundance and affordability of iron make this a low-cost storage option. Additionally, with funding from the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E), a slurry electrode iron flow battery is being pursued to expand the applications of iron flow batteries. Dr. Wainright’s lab is also researching human implantable electrodes with funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to create an electrically generated nerve block. This treatment has the capability to eliminate pain and spasticity in patients, without the complications associated with pharmaceuticals.