- My team is responsible for continually improving the long-term reliability of Natron Energy's industrial battery solutions via fundamental understanding of the physicochemical degradation mechanisms of our unique Prussian blue analogue battery materials.- Working in a cross-disciplinary fashion across internal teams and external parties to implement reliability solutions, starting at the lab scale and working towards robust high-volume production.- Leading a small team to design and execute experiments that answer fundamental materials science questions.- Materials characterization, battery cell design, cell building, cell testing, data analysis including statistical analysis.- Regular presentations of findings to cross-disciplinary teams and executives.

- Designing and executing experiments to understand and mitigate battery cell degradation mechanisms. - Working on cross-disciplinary teams to transform fundamental scientific learnings into robust, scalable processes.- Defining and implementing specifications and test methods to assure product quality.

Natron Energy is a start-up developing sodium-ion battery technology based on high power prussian blue analogue active materials. Achievements during internship include:- Successfully developed composite electrode formulations for scale-up, including carbon and binder content studies. Optimized electrode processability, mechanical and electrochemical properties. - Improved in-house mixing process to reduce electrode impedance and pressure dependence of impedance.- Performed slurry mixing and coating, slurry characterization, pouch cell builds in a glovebox, half and full cell testing.- Tested several new solvent systems for optimal drying rate as part of scale-up effort.- Tested and assisted in the design of a new battery chemistry, including a novel electrolyte.- Designed and conducted a series of tests to diagnose the source of electrode self-discharge.

Conducted active materials related research and experimented with alternative battery format for an aqueous battery. Responsibilities included:- Analyzing the effects of binder and carbon black content on specific capacity.- Rate capability testing/analysis.- Creating materials qualification test methods.- Lab scale solid state ceramic synthesis.- X-ray diffractometry for phase purity analysis. (D2 Phaser)- Particle size analysis. (Horiba Partica, Camsizer)- Thermal gravimetric analysis for carbon content measurement.- pH and conductivity measurements of water solubles.- Cyclic voltammetry. (BioLogic)- Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to investigate cell resistance. (BioLogic)- Three electrode cell assembly/testing. (BioLogic)- Coin cell assembly/testing.- Pouch cell assembly/testing. (Arbin)

I conducted metallurgical research regarding the effects of hydrogen on the mechanical properties of stainless steels. I gained expertise in fracture and fatigue mechanics.Fracture Toughness and Crack Growth Resistance in Welds and Heat Affected Zones:- Performed fatigue pre-cracking on specimens.- Assisted in hydrogen pre-charging of stainless steel specimens.- Conducted 3 point bend tests on hydrogen-charged samples, using direct current potential drop (DCPD) method to observe crack initiation and extension.- Analyzed data using J-integral analysis.- Presented findings to mentors and colleagues in a technical poster and in an oral presentation.Effects of Mixed Mode Loading on Crack Growth Rate:- Modeled specimen design using SolidWorks and calculated optimal specimen dimensions.- Relevant literature review regarding asymmetric 4 point bend testing and mixed mode loading.Ferrite Content in Stainless Steels:- Analyzed gradients of ferrite content across weld regions using a ferrite scope.

I assisted in metals research under Dr. Warren Garrison in the context of developing a new ultra-strength high toughness steel alloy. My responsibilities included: - Weekly readings of relevant technical papers, of which I discuss with the rest of my lab group every week. - Preparing charpy samples for mechanical testing, which included cutting, stamping and heat treating steel samples. - Keeping a detailed and organized log of lab procedures. - Preparing samples for microscopy characterization by cutting, mounting, polishing and etching.- Assisting in scanning electron microscopy analysis. - Inclusion analysis using ImageJ.

I worked on a materials-based cost analysis of hydrogen refueling stations for fuel cell vehicles. My goal was to evaluate possible alternative materials for the manufacturing of hydrogen stations in order to reduce the overall cost of a typical hydrogen station. My work included independently creating a project plan, reviewing relevant literature, understanding the issues regarding hydrogen compatible materials, teaching superiors about these concepts, and completing a materials inventory of a case-study hydrogen station in order to best target areas of highest potential impact.