Thirty years ago, even the most seasoned battery experts could not have foreseen the rapid advancements and strategic shifts that would define today’s battery industry. Yet, by examining both the historical evolution and current state of battery technology, we can glean valuable insights into the innovations that lie ahead.

In this episode, we’re joined by Oliver Gross, Senior Fellow in Electrical Energy Technology at Stellantis, who brings over three decades of expertise to an in-depth discussion on the critical advancements shaping the future of energy storage. Oliver delves into the transformative potential of high-voltage systems, manufacturing innovations, and alternative battery chemistries.

Listeners will learn:

• How solid-state batteries could redefine safety protocols and energy density standards.
• The advantages of 800V systems and their influence on EV efficiency and performance.
• The pivotal role of X-ray diffraction in advancing battery research and ensuring product quality.
• Emerging alternatives to lithium-ion, such as sodium-ion and lithium-sulfur, for a more sustainable energy future.

In this episode, we break down the essential steps and strategies for efficient battery recycling, helping manufacturers to streamline the battery production value chain. Learn from Mr. Thomas Schaefer, VP of Global Lithium Business Development at Ecobat, how they recover valuable materials, reduce costs, and optimize processes. With Ecobat’s years of expertise in lead and lithium battery recycling process and Mr. Schaefer’s background in material science and business development, you’ll gain insights into the cost-sensitive business of battery material recycling in the rapidly evolving battery industry.

Listeners will learn:

• How Ecobat’s pre-treatment process recovers valuable materials and minimizes waste.
• Why lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries are gaining traction in the market.
• The ethical and logistical challenges involved in sourcing cobalt and nickel.

As the electric vehicle industry accelerates toward a sustainable future, the questions about how to enhance design and manufacturing processes become more pressing.

In this episode, Gustavo Cibrian, Product Portfolio Manager at Ennovi joins host Tim Bradow. They explore the complexities of electric vehicle design, focusing on the issues of battery size, grid challenges, and innovations in emergent interconnect technologies as potential solutions. They also address how advancements like lamination technology are overcoming the limitations of traditional materials, enabling the scalability and flexibility needed for large-scale battery systems.

Listeners will learn:

• The role of lamination technology in managing large battery systems, offering a scalable solution that maintains structural integrity even in the most demanding environments.
• The potential of wireless Battery Management Systems (BMS) in improving EV sustainability, enabling precise monitoring and repair at the cell level, and enhancing vehicle safety.
• How innovative interconnect systems are tackling design challenges like size and grid efficiency, paving the way for more efficient and reliable EVs.

In today's discussion, we’re diving into the innovative world of lithium-sulfur batteries with Dr. Rodrigo Salvatierra, Chief Science Officer and co-founder of Zeta Energy. Rodrigo shares his wealth of experience in advanced battery materials from academia to co-founding Zeta Energy. Together, Tim and Rodrigo shed light on the pioneering of lithium-sulfur technology and discuss how Zeta Energy is at the forefront of revolutionizing battery technology for the growing electric vehicle market.

Join us as we discuss:

• How Zeta Energy’s unique chemistry addresses key industry challenges like minimizing dendrite formation and sulfur leaching to improve cycle life, achieving high energy density, and eliminating transition metals to reduce costs and environmental impacts.
• Manufacturing advancements to produce 3D structured metallic anodes featuring lithiated vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes.
• The promising picture of efficient, scalable battery solutions is imperative for meeting the growing demands of the electric vehicle market. 

Today, only 1% of the vehicles in the US are electric. What are the underlying reasons, and what does it take to electrify the other 99% of the market?

To explore these questions, we are joined by Dr. William Fitzhugh, Co-Founder & CEO of Adden Energy. He shares his expert insights on the development of solid-state batteries and his company’s groundbreaking tri-layer separator to mitigate lithium dendrite growth, and 3D anode protector layer technologies that are reshaping the battery industry. Dr. Fitzhugh also discusses the future of electric vehicle battery chemistries and the challenges of scaling new technologies from the lab to the road.

We also discuss:

• Strategies for differentiation in the market based on features like fast charging, bidirectional charging, longevity, and cost.
• How Adden Energy utilizes XRD to enhance the research and development of solid-state batteries and how it should be used more for quality control of battery materials
• The potential for solid-state technologies to revolutionize various electric vehicle applications, including passenger cars, long-haul trucking and fleet vehicles

In today's episode, we have a detailed and technical conversation with Dr. Supriya Koul, a material scientist specializing in advanced battery materials, characterization, metallurgy, and microscopy. Dr. Koul shares valuable insights on various topics, including the role of X-rays in battery analysis, the challenges and opportunities in the battery industry, and the advancements in battery technology. As the world transitions to green technology and electric vehicles, the cost of battery production becomes a critical factor. Dr. Koul delves into the cost challenges, the importance of integrating electric vehicle charging in our daily lives, and the need for a domestic supply chain for lithium-ion batteries.

Join as we discuss:

• Battery technology challenges and commercialization
• Importance of X-ray technology in battery research
• Talent shortage in the battery industry
• Supply chain challenges and recycling
• Future directions and advancements in battery technology

Reach out to the host, Tim Bradow, with potential guest requests or episode ideas on LinkedIn

For the latest in X-ray Diffraction Techniques and Solutions, visit Battery | Rigaku Global Website

To make sure you never miss an episode of The Battery Lab, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Just search for “The Battery Lab” in your favorite podcast player.

In this episode, host Tim sits down with Aaroh Kharaya, Director of Energy Storage Engineering at Primergy Solar, to discuss:


-the impact of battery-based energy storage on the grid
-industry changes in batteries to optimize photovoltaic (PV) energy storage
-the technical challenges of complex, grid-scale energy storage

Aaroh sheds light on the grid-scale battery chemistries deployed in the past and discusses potential future chemistries and improvements in battery performance. He also shares insights on technology trends in the stationary battery industry and the growing importance of modularization of battery energy storage systems (BESS). Tune in to this episode to learn about the exciting developments in solar energy storage technology!


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This episode features Yang Wang, R&D Manager at Enpower Greentech Inc. Dr. Wang specializes in lithium ion batteries, including all solid state batteries. He oversees the development and characterization of solid state battery materials and complete cells.
Dr. Wang has a Ph,D in single molecule science from the University of Science and Technology of China, where he explored the mechanisms of heterogeneous catalysis and strong correlation on prototypical rutile and anatase single crystals and films via a variety of analytical tools, including X ray diffraction.
In this episode, Dr. Wang joins the show to discuss:
The different types and energy densities of solid-state batteries
How likely is the adoption of all solid-state batteries?
What’s the future of battery performance?
The exciting current trends in the Lithium Ion Battery Industry
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This episode features Dr. Duke Shih. Dr. Shih is a materials scientist who specializes in electrochemical applications such as lithium-ion batteries and solid-oxide fuel cells. He also has expertise in the area of solid-state lithium-ion batteries. Dr. Shih is currently employed at Itron as a Principal Engineer where he tests and characterizes different battery chemistries and advises on battery technology solutions for Itron smart meters and other products which demand extreme reliability and long life. Dr. Shih has a PhD in Materials Engineering from Imperial College London.
Join us as we discuss:
What types of chemistries are needed to meet the Smart Meter product performance and reliability requirements?
The latest trends in the rechargeable battery space
What is the potential of Sodium-Ion Batteries?


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Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Battery Lab in your favorite podcast player.

Many times, solving one problem can lead to a collection of new ones in the Battery Industry. Researchers, analysts and futurists are constantly playing a game of whack-a-mole trying to anticipate where the next breakthrough will show its head.
In this episode, Tim speaks with Dr. Rohan Gokhale, Applied Technology Manager- Rechargeable Battery Materials at Umicore. They talk about:
The different types of batteries currently being used in EVs
What is the importance of cathode material in the battery?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of different cathodes?
What is the Most Elusive Problem that Needs to Be Solved In the Battery Industry?


Link to Nobel Prize reference https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2019/press-release/
“More than one million miles and possibly a century of life” – Jeff Dahn, Dalhousie University https://youtu.be/w5gq7scB0hE
To make sure you never miss an episode of The Battery Lab, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and the battery.rigaku.com website
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Welcome to the first episode of The Battery Lab! Our first guest is Dr. Pengbo Wang, Scientist At Wildcat Discovery Technologies.
Tim Bradow, the host of the show, and Dr. Wang discuss many battery technology topics in this episode, including:
What types of batteries are currently used in the EV Market?
Existing challenges with production scale batteries
The tradeoff between battery Capacity and thermal stability
Why electrochemical testing is not enough to measure future battery performance
The use of X-ray diffraction and other analytical tools for battery analysis
Are electric vehicle battery technology and the EV industry ready for mass adoption?
The current challenges with solid-state batteries


To make sure you never miss an episode of The Battery Lab, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. You can also find the episode on Rigaku's Battery focused website
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Battery Lab in your favorite podcast player.

Welcome to the trailer for The Battery Lab, a podcast brought to you by Rigaku. This is a show for researchers, developers and industry leaders looking to stay current and straddle the cutting edge of battery advancement and analysis.

Reach out to the host, Tim Bradow with potential guest requests or episode ideas on LinkedIn For the latest in X-ray Diffraction Techniques and Solutions, visit Battery | Rigaku Global Website

To make sure you never miss an episode of the Battery Lab podcast, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or our website.