How can we better predict ignition risks during high-pressure #hydrogen releases? Our new conference proceeding introduces a 2-D modeling framework that captures shock waves, mixing, and ignition behavior to support safer hydrogen storage and handling systems. 🧪 🔗 s.ul.org/44YGpHr

(PDF) Two-Dimensional Ignition Prediction of Pressurized Hydrogen Jets Using a Reduced-Order Homogeneous Mixing Ignition Model

PDF | The accidental release of high-pressure hydrogen into air can result in spontaneous ignition without an external ignition source, presenting a... | Find, read and cite all the research you need ...

s.ul.org

What drives fire intensity during battery #ThermalRunaway events? Our latest research examines heat release, propagation, and gas venting to identify strategies that can improve safety in grid-scale #energy storage systems. #Electrochemistry #SafetyScience 🧪 🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.es...

60-Second Safety Science 🧪 AI Chatbots -- the latest development in expert(ish) systems... www.youtube.com/watch?v=0khm...

Do AI chatbots make us more vulnerable to cyberattacks? | DSRI #safetyscience #ai

YouTube video by UL Research Institutes

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Our recent publication quantifies lithium inventory changes across the cathode, anode, and electrolyte during cycling, identifying key Li loss pathways and opportunities to improve safer, high-energy #battery designs. s.ul.org/4pGquXQ 🧪 #Electrochemistry

A Quantitative Lithium Inventory Framework for Anode‐Free Lithium Metal Batteries

A component-resolved lithium inventory framework quantitatively tracks Li redistribution across the cell in anode-free NMC622||Cu pouch cells throughout cycling. Three sequential degradation stages a...

s.ul.org

60-second Safety Science! At @ulresearchinst.bsky.social, our specialized exposure chambers measure chemical emissions so we can understand potential hazards from materials and technologies in our everyday environment 🧪 www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdSe...

Using exposure chamber technology to measure chemical emissions

YouTube video by UL Research Institutes

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I'm Chris. I serve as Chief Research Officer for @ulresearchinst.bsky.social. As a chemist, prof emeritus, & admin, I opine on science, research leadership, innovation, higher ed, public-private partnerships, and the challenge of turning discovery into real-world impact. 🧪 #SafetyScience FTW

One major focus for us, in our quest to make the world safer through research, is the characterization and mitigation of risks associated with energy-storage systems, with lithium-ion batteries being the most ubiquitous hazard. NOBODY wants to be around a thermal runaway event... 🧪

UL Research Institutes@ulresearchinst.bsky.social · 3w ago

As batteries grow in size and energy density, #safetyscience must also evolve. Our latest research published in @pubs.acs.org explores mechanistic gaps between material-level testing and real-world cell failures, providing insights for safer battery design. 🧪 pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....

📝 New conference proceedings just out! Understanding #hydrogen release hazards is critical. Our paper advances modeling of ignition risks and complex release behavior. This research supports the safer design of #energystorage systems and risk mitigation. bit.ly/4hvd3Yw #Electrochemistry 🧪

(PDF) Compressible Reactive Simulations of High-Pressure Hydrogen Jet Releases Using Partially Stirred Reactor Model for Turbulence - Chemistry Interaction

PDF | High-pressure hydrogen (H2) leaks can generate under-expanded jets that may remain unignited, ignite transiently, or develop into sustained jet... | Find, read and cite all the research you need...

bit.ly

As batteries grow in size and energy density, #safetyscience must also evolve. Our latest research published in @pubs.acs.org explores mechanistic gaps between material-level testing and real-world cell failures, providing insights for safer battery design. 🧪 pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....

Safety of Lithium Batteries: Mechanistic Gap Analysis from Materials to Large-Format Cells

Thermal runaway (TR) remains the most critical failure mode in commercial batteries, yet its initiation and propagation in large-format cells are not adequately captured by conventional material- and ...

pubs.acs.org

Day 1 of our annual Research Symposium is in the books! 🤝 This year, our fourth annual symposium highlights the important intersection of research and education, and how we work together to drive meaningful change. 🧪 #Science #ULRISymposium

This #InternationalWomenInEngineeringDay, we’re shining a well-deserved light on Senior Program Manager, Elizabeth Smith, a systems engineer who joined the ULRI team after working at NASA’s Johnson Space Center for nearly four decades. #INWED26 #WomenInSTEM s.ul.org/4vnSu4r

Former NASA Engineer Drives Impact in Safety Science Research

Elizabeth Smith’s engineering career has spanned 40 years — from working for NASA’s Space Station Program to advancing safety science at UL Research Institutes.

ul.org

What is the difference between an organic #chemist versus an inorganic or analytical chemist? 🧪 Well, one commonality is their scientific integrity. Read more from Chris Cramers' convocation speech for @uic-chemistry.bsky.social. www.linkedin.com/pulse/commen...

Commencement Address to the Undergraduate, Masters and Doctoral Degree Recipients of the Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, May 17, 2026

<mode:delivery=breezy> Graduates! Members of the faculty. Graduates! Distinguished guests.

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We are thrilled to be recognized by @reuters.com for our work toward a #CleanEnergy transition. Our team is looking forward to the Reuters Events Energy Transition event in NYC this June! 🧪 See the full list here: events.reutersevents.com/energy/energ... #Energy #Research

Thank you to @sciencetalkorg.bsky.social for having us this year! At Science Talks '26, Kristen Delphos, Nicole Sanders-Abbott, Paige Brown Jarreau, and Steven Sobieszczyk conducted an invigorating panel on "Rebuilding Trust in Science and Safety Science." #SciComms #SafetyScience #Science

#ThermalRunaway fires from disposed #Vapes threaten waste sites. Our #Electrochemical Safety leader discusses #Li-Ion battery safety and risk prevention. 🧪 🔗 waste-management-world.com/resource-use... #Electrochemistry #Vaping

Solid‑state batteries could power long‑range EVs and electric aviation, but their thermal risks remain. Our latest research published in @pubs.acs.org breaks down the mechanisms behind thermal instability to support safer #SodiumIonBattery designs.🧪 #ThermalRunaway #Electrochemistry #Electrochemical

Thermal Stability Landscape of Solid-State Batteries

Solid-state batteries (SSBs) with lithium metal anodes promise to offer high energy densities, enabling applications such as long-range electric vehicles and electric aviation. While various challenges related to transport, chemomechanics, and interfacial morphology have been extensively investigated, the thermal stability of the underlying solid/solid interfaces still requires comprehensive assessment. In this Perspective, we present mechanistic insights into the coupled influence of electrode–electrolyte interactions, heterogeneities, and gas-evolution dynamics in governing distinct thermal instability pathways in inorganic SSBs. The critical role of interphase chemistry and lithium morphology in thermal runaway at the anode/solid electrolyte interface and cathode-driven phenomena such as oxygen release, state-of-charge effects, pressure buildup, and crosstalk reactions are discussed. We further examine how operating conditions including pressure, current density, temperature, and moisture exposure modulate thermo-kinetic pathways and the exothermic behavior of SSBs. Key scientific gaps are identified, providing a foundation for future research toward the development of thermally stable and safe SSBs.

pubs.acs.org

In a new @pubs.acs.org paper, our researchers deliver mechanistic insights into long-term stability and thermal safety, advancing #SodiumIonBatteries for large-scale #EnergyStorage. 🧪 #Electrochemistry

Role of Anode Composition and Electrolyte Interactions on the Thermo-Electrochemical Stability of Sodium-Ion Batteries

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are promising for large-scale energy storage, owing to their resource abundance and low cost. However, long-term stability is constrained by complex interfacial interactions and microstructural degradation. This study investigates the mechanistic coupling between anode composition, electrolyte chemistry, and solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) evolution in full-cell SIBs employing sodium vanadium phosphate (NVP) cathodes. Pure tin (Sn), hard carbon (HC), and Sn–HC composite anodes were systematically evaluated with carbonate ester- and ether-based electrolytes. Microscopic and spectroscopic analyses reveal that Sn-rich electrodes undergo significant pulverization and unstable SEI formation, whereas HC maintains structural integrity and forms kinetically stable SEI. On the other hand, the Sn–HC composite mitigates Sn’s mechanical degradation while enhancing capacity retention. Electrochemical analysis highlights the critical role of electrolyte choice in modulating redox reversibility and interfacial integrity. Accelerating rate calorimetry (ARC) links interphase behavior to distinct thermal decomposition pathways and self-heating rate. These findings provide mechanistic insights into the electro-chemo-mechanical degradation processes dictating the long-term stability and thermal safety of SIBs.

pubs.acs.org

A wonderful week celebrating several of our #BEYA award recipients! We look forward to another day of invigorating panels and dicussions! 🧪 #BEYASTEM #BEYASTEMDTX #BlackEngineers

Fabulous #AAASmtg plenary introduction from Dr. Michael Crow, Arizona State University President, reminding us that scientific discovery does not automatically translate. The gap between scientific discovery and public understanding expands. Science requires advocates. Storytelling must disrupt. 🧪

🎉 Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science 🔬 On 11 February, we celebrate the important contributions of women to the STEM disciplines. Find out more about CERN’s #WomenInScience2026, where we feature six scientists: home.cern/news/news/kn...

📣 We're thrilled to share Vasu Modekurti, ULRI and UL Standards and Engagements SVP and Chief Information Officer, is a finalist for the 2026 ChicagoCIO ORBIE® Awards in the Nonprofit/Public Sector category. We are delighted to celebrate him and his fellow nominees! 🧪 #SciComm s.ul.org/4qmd5mj

Finalists named for 2026 ChicagoCIO ORBIE® Awards

The 2026 ChicagoCIO ORBIE® Awards finalists have been named. Winners will be announced May 8 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown, honoring CIO leadership and innovation.

s.ul.org

📣 We're thrilled to share Kristen Delphos (@heykristen.bsky.social), VP of Communications and PR, is a finalist for the 2026 ChicagoCMO ORBIE® Awards in the Corporate category. We look forward to celebrating Delphos, a passionate #SciComm leader in #SafetyScience, in May! 🧪 s.ul.org/4qmd5mj

Finalists named for 2026 ChicagoCIO ORBIE® Awards

The 2026 ChicagoCIO ORBIE® Awards finalists have been named. Winners will be announced May 8 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown, honoring CIO leadership and innovation.

s.ul.org

Who likes knowledge? Who likes it for free? We have a free webinar on Feb. 18 to share how scientists at our #nonprofit will accelerate chemical screening and work to create high-quality data and publicly available tools. #SafetyScience #Science 🧪 Register >>> s.ul.org/3Zhkto5

Computational Toxicology Capabilities to Advance Chemical Safety

s.ul.org

🔋Our newly published @acs.org @pubs.acs.org paper provides insights on safer designs and stability of #lithium-metal batteries, and advances science by bridging electrochemistry, materials science, and thermal analysis to inform safer innovations. 🧪 pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

Mechanistic Understanding of Thermal Stability and Safety in Lithium Metal Batteries

As lithium-ion batteries approach their theoretical capacity limits, lithium metal batteries (LMBs) have emerged as promising candidates for next-generation energy storage, offering substantially high...

pubs.acs.org

🏆 We're pleased to share Katie Paul Friedman, Ph.D., has been awarded the 2026 @sotoxicology.bsky.social Achievement Award. Katie is the Director of the Center for Chemical Informatics and Screening UL Research Institutes' Chemical Insights and will be recognized at the #ToxExpo in March. 🧪

Upcoming Talk by Dr. Katie Paul Friedman @ulresearchinst.bsky.social "Can NAMs close the chemical data gap?" hostet by @tamaratal.bsky.social 📅 27 Jan 2026 | 10:00 CET 📍 UFZ Kubus, Hall 1A Insights on using NAMs for rapid risk values, chemical prioritization & mixture modeling in safety assessment.

Take your research to the next level in 2026. 💫 Apply for a #DiscoveriesInSafety Grant by January 27, and full proposals will be requested from select applicants in March. Get started on your submission here: ul.org/about/grants/

Calling all #wildfire #emissions experts! 🔥💨 We’re looking to award grants to researchers studying two unique aspects of wildland-urban interface (WUI) fire emissions. Learn more and apply here: ul.org/about/grants... 🧪 #DiscoveriesInSafety #Grant #Research #WUI

Let’s work together on the transition to #sustainableenergy. 🤝 The #DiscoveriesInSafety grant awards PI's researching improved recycling technologies to recover critical minerals from #energystorage devices. Letters of intent are due by Jan. 27! Apply here: ul.org/about/grants... 🧪 #Batteries #ULRI

📣 #Firesafety researchers, applications are open for the #DiscoveriesInSafety Grants program! This is a great opportunity for #researchers working to improve #respiratory protection options for #firstresponders. Letters of intent are due by January 27th. Learn more at ul.org/about/grants... 🧪