University of Oxford
Thomas Finco
Thomas started his journey in engineering in 2015 at Queen Mary University of London. There he graduated as Mechanical Engineer in 2019. Not long after, completed his master’s degree at the University of Manchester in 2021 on Thermal Power and Fluid Engineering. From early on, Thomas had an inkling for Heat Transfer/Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics/CFD. This led him to engage in practical applications where these skills were highly relevant i.e. Formula Student. After completing his first steps in education, Thomas worked for three years in different industries as professional engineer. Some of these were working for Ford Motor Company as a Desing and Release Engineer for Electric and Hybrid Vehicles, and most recently, as a Thermal Design Engineer for up-and-coming Zero Emissions Electric Propulsion Aerospace Company, Evolito Ltd.
Now in 2024, Thomas has joined the Safebatt team to research Battery Safety and implementation in the automotive industry. His research is centred in the safety characterisation of prismatic cell technology along side battery pack levels for Electric Vehicles. Some of the objectives for his work will be use computer aided engineering tools like CFD, FEA to analyse new battery safety scenarios. Alongside this, develop novel experimental tools to make new findings and validate the computational studies.
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
ARTHUR FORDHAM
Arthur undertook his Chemistry (MChem) degree at Worcester College, University of Oxford and graduated in June 2021. His Master’s research focused on sodium-ion batteries, linking to the NEXGENNA Faraday Project. He investigated the electrochemical properties and structural phases in the layered cathode material as synthesis temperature and composition was varied. He utilised a range of experimental techniques within battery fabrication as well as analysis of crystal structures using high resolution X-ray powder diffraction and TOPAS Academic for computational Rietveld analysis. He joined the EIL and the SafeBatt team as a PhD student in October 2021.
Arthur’s research aims to improve the fundamental understanding of the root causes of cell failure and the mechanisms of failure propagation. He aims to use hybrid diagnostic techniques of acoustic measurements and electrochemical noise to determine specific signs of degradation and battery state of health in a range of battery types. He is interested to use fundamental chemistry to investigate the microstructure of electrodes whilst cycling to understand phase changes and how they lead to macroscopic problems for performance and safety.
IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON
RAMIN JANNAT
Ramin completed her undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering (MEng) at University College London in July 2021, focusing on analysing the colloidal stability of coronavirus-like particles in aqueous systems for her master’s research project. Modules of interest in her final year included Energy Systems and Sustainability, led by Prof. Dan Brett, and Electrochemical Engineering and Power Sources, led by Prof. Paul Shearing and Dr Rhodri Jervis, both of which encouraged her to pursue a PhD in the energy storage field in order to contribute to achieving a cleaner, greener future.
Ramin’s research is focussed around studying dendrite formation in lithium-ion batteries. She is interested in applying state-of-the-art microscopic and visualisation techniques, namely atom probe tomography, to grasp a clearer understanding of the dendrite nucleation mechanism in batteries through a pseudo-operando approach. Through this, she hopes to paint a clearer image of dendrite formation, a major cause of short-circuiting in lithium-ion batteries, which would then enable the design of higher-performing batteries.
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
INEZ KESUMA
Inez completed both her bachelor's and master's degrees in Chemistry at the Leibniz University Hannover, which also included a 6-month exchange at the University of Cambridge’s Forse Group. During her bachelor's, Inez was primarily interested in electrochemistry and inorganic chemistry, which resulted in her specialising in Materials and Nanoscience for her master's degree. Given Inez’s passion for integrating her research with the global need to shift towards a zero-carbon future, she joined the EIL and the SafeBatt team in October 2022.
Inez's research is centered on understanding the change of acoustic signals caused by the continuous cycling of battery cells and their tendency to degrade. Through combining ultrasonic testing with other techniques, she hopes to correlate the changes in acoustic signals with the physical, structural, and electrochemical changes within the cell. The project aims to develop an early warning system that could be integrated into battery packs to enhance the safety and reliability of the device.
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
CHARLIE KIRCHNER-BURLES
Charlie embarked on his degree in Chemistry (MSci) at the University of Manchester after migrating up the M6 from South London. After a year studying abroad with the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, he completed a Master’s project on the catalytic applications of novel metallic-organic frameworks (MOFs). Utilising various instrumental characterisation techniques, such as powder X-ray diffraction, gas chromatography, BET, etc., he synthesised a Cu-based paddle-wheel MOF and tested its efficacy in catalysing benzylic oxidation. Graduating with a first-class honours degree, he joined the EIL as a PhD student in October 2020.
Charlie’s research centres on the quality and safety assessment of advanced batteries, with his investigations encompassing ultra-high-speed imaging in tandem with correlative thermal, calorimetric and acoustic spectroscopy. This work aims to leverage both laboratory and synchrotron imaging tools to provide comprehensive understanding of thermal runaway processes for a range of failure scenarios.
