Army Research Lab Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) – Electrochemistry (Topic ID: ARL-BAA-0025)

The ARL Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) on Electrochemistry, identified under Topic ID ARL-BAA-0025, is an open opportunity offered by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory. It seeks to fund fundamental research in electrochemical systems, focusing on understanding and manipulating the underlying physics and chemistry that control redox reactions and species transport. The scope of this research aligns with ARL’s foundational competencies in Energy Sciences and Sciences of Extreme Materials. Applicants are encouraged to engage in projects that blend chemistry, materials science, and engineering disciplines, particularly those exploring ionic conduction, electrocatalysis, electron transfer, and spectroscopic probes of electrochemical systems. The opportunity is organized into three research thrusts. The first is Reduction-oxidation (Redox) Chemistry and Electrocatalysis, which supports investigations into how material properties and surface morphologies influence electron transfer and catalytic processes. The goal is to enable precise molecular-level engineering of electrodes and electrocatalysts. This thrust also encourages the development of new tools for surface-specific electrochemical probing. The second thrust, Transport of Electroactive Species, centers on understanding how charged species move through complex environments such as electrolytes and polymer matrices. It aims to uncover transport mechanisms, design tunable electrolytes, and utilize advanced modeling and experimental techniques to explore selective species movement in these environments. A newer, emerging area of focus is Electro-Thermo-Mechanics. This includes studies of energy systems operating under extreme thermal and mechanical stress. Two priority sub-topics are high-rate dissipation, which involves designing hybrid or passive materials that rapidly absorb heat spikes, and high-temperature power sources capable of maintaining performance under elevated temperatures. Research in this area should integrate material discovery, measurements, and system-level modeling to correlate thermal, electrochemical, and mechanical properties. The submission process for this BAA involves several stages. First, interested applicants are advised to initiate a preliminary inquiry with the designated ARL technical point of contact (TPOC) to discuss alignment with ARL’s interests and funding availability. Following this, a whitepaper may be submitted for feedback. If appropriate, applicants may then be invited to submit a full proposal. This stepwise process is designed to minimize unnecessary effort for both applicants and the government. The funding opportunity remains open from its initial posting on November 21, 2022, until November 20, 2027. While there is no rolling deadline, proposals can be submitted at any time during the open period, subject to available funding. Matthew W. Glasscott, PhD, serves as the technical contact for this opportunity. He can be reached at matthew.w.glasscott.civ@army.mil or by phone at (484) 883-5095. Additional submission instructions and full application guidelines are available in the full BAA document. Researchers interested in pursuing innovative electrochemical research aligned with ARL’s priorities are encouraged to apply.

Applicants are encouraged to conduct a preliminary inquiry with an ARL Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) before submitting a proposal. The recommended application process involves three steps: making an initial inquiry with the ARL TPOC, submitting a whitepaper for review, and submitting a full proposal. The preliminary inquiry stage helps applicants assess the alignment of their research with ARL's interests and available funding before committing significant effort to a full proposal.