This $300,000 NSF Integrative Activities Program (CFDA 47.083) project grant awarded to the University of Hawaii at Manoa will support research on degradation mechanisms in lithium-ion battery electrodes. The project aims to enhance understanding of thermal properties that impact battery performance, safety, and degradation through local thermal characterization using scanning thermal probes. Key activities include collaboration with researchers at UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, training of a graduate student, and development of course materials and research publications. The project will provide the principal investigator with formal training on battery technology and access to advanced research facilities, transforming their career and opening new research directions in sustainable energy storage.