Spotlight on battery research and energy storage

Thermo Fisher Scientific is to host a two-day Clean Energy Forum,- a battery imaging and characterisation workshop - on October 8-9, 2024.To be held in Coventry, at the WMG Scarman Conference Centre, University of Warwick, the event explores the latest breakthroughs in battery research and energy storage.

It will be hosted in collaboration with the Warwick Manufacturing group (WMG) and the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC), highlighting advancements in imaging and characterisation technologies, crucial for accelerating innovation in clean energy. 

The UKBIC facility bridges the gap between promising laboratory-scale battery technologies and mass production. Funded by the UK Government’s Faraday Battery Challenge, it provides a unique environment for manufacturers, researchers and innovators to refine and scale up battery technologies for real-world applications. During the workshop, attendees will have the opportunity to tour this groundbreaking facility and observe industrial-scale manufacturing processes firsthand, offering a rare glimpse into the future of battery production.

On day one, guest speakers include Professor Louis Piper from WMG and Professor Paul Shearing from the University of Oxford, with experts from Thermo Fisher Scientific also presenting the latest advancements in battery imaging and characterisation. Presentations will be followed by  a Q&A panel discussion and networking sessions. 

On the second day, participants will visit WMG’s microscopy lab to explore the advanced  technologies driving battery research and production. The tour will also extend to UKBIC, where attendees will observe live demonstrations of industrial-scale battery manufacturing.

Professor Louis Piper, who leads WMG’s Electrochemical Materials Group, expressed his enthusiasm for the event: “Thermo Fisher Scientific is highly connected with both academia and industry due to the high quality of its products and expertise. Its upcoming Clean Energy Forum provides a unique opportunity to explore the latest advancements in battery technology and to see how the latest research is being translated into real-world applications.”

Imaging and characterisation technologies play a pivotal role in battery research and energy storage solutions, allowing researchers to visualise and analyse materials at the micro and nano scales. “Understanding degradation mechanisms, optimising performance, improving energy density and enhancing safety are all essential criteria for developing efficient, long-lasting batteries,” explained Dr. Letian Li, Market Development Manager Clean Energy at Thermo Fisher Scientific. “Electron microscopy comes to the fore here by offering unparalleled resolution, enabling us to examine materials down to the atomic level,” continued Li. “This level of detail helps identify structural weaknesses, track material changes over time and supports the development of novel materials that can push the boundaries of energy storage technology.”

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