We're looking for a Research Scientist to join our growing R&D team at Agratas. Working in our diverse and knowledgeable team you will be responsible for electrode level activities, spanning formaulation, weight, density and porosity optimisation. You will design and carry out testing activities to propel the development of our battery cells.
Due to the nature of the work, please be aware that this role will be predominantly based out of our lab facilities in Coventry or Birmingham
Key Duties & Responsibilities
- Work with Agratas’ R&D team in collaboration with leading academic researchers.
- Demonstrate scalability of electrode fabrication processes, from slurry mixing through to coating and calendaring for coin and pouch cells.
- Electrode level activities, including formulation, coat weight, density, and porosity optimisation.
- Perform physicochemical and electrochemical characterisation at material, electrode and cell level, including for example PXRD, SEM, EDX and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
- Create, plan, and carry out Design of Experiments for the production and testing of lithium-ion and/or sodium-ion cells.
- Analyse and evaluate cells performance through electrochemical tests, including galvanostatic and EIS.
- Root-cause analysis that correlates cell failures with issues incurred during cell development phase, including physiochemical and electrochemical characterisation methods.
- Complete projects by efficient time management, organisation of experiments and participation in group and project meetings, to achieve project deliverables.
Essential Experience
- Master’s degree plus academic/industry experience or PhD in Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, Electrochemistry or related field.
- Fundamental understanding of battery cell working principles.
- Strong knowledge of anode and cathode materials, as well as other components including, separators and electrolytes.
- Confident in lithium-ion and/or sodium-ion processing of electrodes.
- Prior experience in coin and pouch cells assembly, designing and developing batteries.
- Experienced in characterisation of materials at material and electrode level, including PXRD, SEM, EDS, ICP-OES.
Desired Experience
- Familiar with assessment methodologies for electrode quality and performance, including for example rheological properties.
- Prior experience in cell teardown and root-cause analysis.
- Previous experience of working with Universities and/or Industry partners would be advantageous.