Chemist and consultant with four decades of experience in the area of electrochemical energy related devices, including batteries, capacitors, fuel cells, electrolysis and corrosion. Has significant expertise in laptop, cell phone, and e-cigarette batteries, electric vehicles, and other applications of electrochemical energy storage. Expert working knowledge of electronics and laboratory instrumentation as applied to the testing of batteries, chargers, and battery-powered devices.
Formal Education
- Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- B.S. in Chemistry, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Career Highlights
- Technical leader for development and commercialization of highpower alkaline cells for a custom OEM application
- Inventor of novel gas diffusion membranes and air cathodes for zinc-air hearing aid batteries to improve performance at lower cost
- Managed an analytical chemistry group charged with analyzing battery failures and anomalous behaviors involving chemical analyses, electrochemical testing, and CT imaging
- Served as PI for a $27MM U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium grant for lithium-polymer electric vehicle battery research and a $5MM U.S. Department of Energy grant for iron-air battery research
- Developed rechargeable lithium batteries for cellular phones
- Tested silver-iron batteries for a military application
- Invented magnesium-sea water batteries for a sea-floor application
- Former technical leader of W.L. Gore’s battery and capacitor team
- Involved in the development and commercialization of electrodes and separators for supercapacitors with organic electrolyte
- Named inventor on nine issued U.S. patents in the area of electrochemistry and electrochemical energy storage
Expert Qualifications
- Retained as an expert witness more than fifty times in litigation relating to battery failures, electrochemistry, and supercapacitors and deposed about half a dozen times
- Certified Fire and Explosions Investigator (CFEI)