Parallel Session

Solid-State Electrolytes and Cells

Session Chair | Dr Dominic Spencer-JollyAssociate Professor, University of Birmingham

This session focuses on solid-state electrolytes and cells, with perspectives from the SOLBAT project within the Faraday Institution. Discussion will centre on interfacial engineering strategies and dendrite suppression, alongside innovations in garnet, sulfide, and polymer electrolyte materials.

Plenary Talk | Professor Mauro PastaProfessor of Applied Electrochemistry, University of Oxford

The lithium-argyrodite interface in solid-state batteries

Invited Talk | Dr Louise TurnerVP Product Development, Ilika Technologies

Safe and high-performance quasi-solid state cells developed in the UK

Parallel Session

Battery Safety and Abuse

Session Chair | Sarah WindrumHead of Cluster Development, HORIBA MIRA

This session focuses on battery safety and abuse, with perspectives from the SafeBatt project within the Faraday Institution. Discussion will cover thermal runaway prediction and prevention, as well as tolerance to mechanical and electrical abuse.

Plenary Talk | Annika Ahlberg TidbladTechnical Leader Battery Safety and Legislation, Volvo Cars

Battery Safety from "atom to system" level

Invited Talk | Professor Paul ShearingProfessor of Sustainable Energy Engineering, University of Oxford

Physical and Digital Platforms for Battery Safety Testing

Parallel Session

Grid Scale and Sustainable Energy Storage

Session Chair | Professor Darren WalshProfessor of Chemistry, University of Nottingham

This session focuses on grid-scale and sustainable energy storage, bringing together perspectives from the NEXGENNA project and UltraStore tranformational challenge within the Faraday Institution. Discussion will centre on long-duration energy storage technologies that support resilient, low-carbon power systems, with particular attention to emerging chemistries such as sodium-ion, iron–air, redox flow, magnesium, and calcium batteries.

Plenary Talk | Dr Alexandre PonrouchStaff Researcher, Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC)

From Mg and Ca to Na: Leveraging Interphase Insights to Improve SEI Stability

Invited Talk | Dr Nuria Tapia-RuizAssociate Professor, Imperial College London

Na-ion Batteries: Materials, Interfaces and Mechanistic Pathways to Sustainable Energy Storage

Parallel Session

High Energy Batteries for Next-Gen Applications

Session Chair | Professor Lee JohnsonProfessor of Electrochemistry, University of Nottingham

This session focuses on high-energy batteries for next-generation applications, drawing on perspectives from the LiSTAR project and HighPerCell tranformational challenge within the Faraday Institution. Discussion will encompass lithium-sulfur and lithium-air battery systems, alongside developments in high-energy cathodes and novel anode materials.

Plenary Talk | Professor Sir Peter Bruce FRSWolfson Professor of Materials, University of Oxford

The rechargeable lithium-air battery: Challenges and Progress

Invited Talk | Professor Masashi IshikawaProfessor, Kansai University

Porous Carbon-Based Sulfur Cathodes for High-Performance Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Parallel Session

Recycling and Reuse of Batteries

Session Chair | Dr Jake YangLecturer in Physical Chemistry, University of Leicester

This session focuses on the recycling and reuse of batteries, with perspectives from the ReLiB project within the Faraday Institution. Discussion will cover approaches to direct recycling and chemical recovery, highlighting the advantages and challenges of each method.

Plenary Talk | Professor Peter SlaterProfessor in Materials Chemistry, University of Birmingham

Li/Na ion battery recycling: taking the direct approach

Invited Talk | Professor Mohamed MamloukProfessor of Electrochemical Engineering, Newcastle University

Beyond traditional electrochemical Impedance spectroscopy: Non-linear Frequency Response, Distribution of Relaxation Times and Magnetic Field Mapping for State-of-Health Diagnostics and Capacity Forecasting in Second-Life Lithium-Ion Batteries applications

Parallel Session

AI-Powered Discovery, Optimisation, and Manufacturing for Batteries

Session Chair | Dr James Le HouxSenior Lecturer in Materials Science and Engineering, University of Greenwich

This session focuses on AI-driven discovery, optimisation, and manufacturing for batteries. Discussion will cover AI-guided discovery automation and the application of Bayesian optimisation frameworks for materials development. Topics will also include the standardisation of shared datasets, the development of cross-institution digital lab platforms, and the automation and robotisation of laboratories and manufacturing processes with integration into AI workflows, supporting faster, more efficient research, development, and production of battery technologies.

Plenary Talk | Professor Tejs VeggeProfessor, Autonomous Materials Discovery, Technical University of Denmark

MaterialsCommons and FAIR workflows for federated discovery of advanced energy materials

Invited Talk | Dr Sam CooperAssociate Professor in Artificial Intelligence for Materials Design, Imperial College London

Polaron: Small features; big impact

Parallel Session

Advanced Characterisation and Degradation

Session Chair | Dr Matthew LaceyExpert Engineer, TRATON AG

This session focuses on the characterisation of batteries at both the laboratory and facility scale, with perspectives from the Faraday Institution Degradation Project. Understanding and mitigating the mechanisms that limit battery life will be a major focus. Discussion will cover in situ and operando characterisation techniques, software and simulation tools, and advanced electrochemical methods used to investigate structural and morphological changes across multiple scales.

Plenary Talk | Professor Dame Clare Grey FRSGeoffrey Moorhouse Gibson Professor of Chemistry, University of Cambridge

Comparing Phase Transitions Mechanisms in Li- and Na-ion Electrode Materials: implications for degradation

Invited Talk | Dr Bethan DaviesResearch Associate / Project Lead, Imperial College London

Exploring chemical degradation through gas analysis in anode-free Cu vs NMC cells

Parallel Session

Manufacturing, Formation and Supply Chain

Session Chair | Dr Keri GoodwinChief Technologist, CPI

This session focuses on manufacturing, formation, and the battery supply chain, drawing on perspectives from the Nextrode and FAST projects within the Faraday Institution. Discussion will include advances in dry electrode processing, as well as approaches to rapid formation and electrolyte wetting. Topics will cover supply chain localisation and the role of inline diagnostics and quality control in manufacturing environments.

Plenary Talk | Professor Emma KendrickChair of Energy Materials, University of Birmingham

FAST and Sustainable: Formation, Ageing and Critical Material Choices in Manufacturing Li-ion and Na-ion Batteries

Invited Talk | Dr Gabriele PupoFounder and CEO, FluoRok

Next Generation Fluorochemicals Manufacturing for Li-ion Batteries

Parallel Session

Batteries for Aviation

Session Chair | Ritvik AnandSenior Technologist - Whole Aircraft, Aerospace Technology Institute

This session focuses on batteries for aviation, with an emphasis on high specific power and mass-optimised designs for flight. Discussion will cover the structural integration of cells within aircraft components and thermal management strategies for aerospace environments.

Plenary Talk

Venkat Srinivasan, Senior Scientist, Argonne National Laboratory

Invited Talk | Sophie ChittimChief Project Engineer - Environmental Technology, Rolls-Royce

Future Technologies for Net-Zero Aviation

Parallel Session

Advanced Lithium-Ion and Intercalation Electrodes

Session Chair | Professor Robert HouseAssociate Professor of Materials, University of Oxford

This session focuses on advanced lithium-ion batteries, drawing on perspectives from the 3D-Cat and Degradation projects within the Faraday Institution. Discussion will encompass emerging cathode materials, including Li-rich, lithium nickel oxide (LNO), NMC811, and disordered rock-salt structures.

Plenary Talk | Professor Gleb YushinProfessor and CTO, Georgia Institute of Technology and Sila

Nanostructured Materials Define the Future of Li-ion Batteries

Invited Talk | Professor Matteo BianchiniChair of Inorganic Active Materials for Electrochemical Energy Storage, University of Bayreuth

Where Do We Go From LiNiO2? Novel solutions in the Li-rich space

Parallel Session

Battery Modelling

Session Chair | Dr Mona Faraji NiriAssociate Professor of Battery Modelling, WMG - University of Warwick

This session focuses on modelling and digital approaches for batteries, with perspectives from the Multi-Scale Modelling project within the Faraday Institution. Discussion will encompass multiphysics and multi-scale modelling, alongside the use of digital twins for predictive ageing.

Plenary Talk | Professor Weihan LiJunior Professor for Artificial Intelligence and Digitalization for Batteries, RWTH Aachen University

Digital Battery With Artificial Intelligence

Invited Talk | Dr Monica MarinescuAssociate Professor, Imperial College London

Coupled Degradation Mechanisms in Lithium-Ion Batteries: Diagnostics, Modeling, and Lifetime Design

Parallel Session

Batteries for Emerging Economies

This session will showcase research funded by the Ayrton Challenge on Energy Storage, in particular the Concept-to-Demonstrator projects, which are facilitating the deployment of proof-of-concept demonstrators of promising technologies in target countries. Hear about pioneering work using commercial sodium-ion cells in a distributed energy context, the development of a sustainable, low-cost lead-flow battery and a UK-developed sodium-ion battery, being used in mobility applications in Africa.

Invited Talk | Professor Dan GladwinProfessor of Electrical and Control Engineering, University of Sheffield

Na-ion Batteries for Sustainable Energy and Mobility in Africa (NaSEMA)

Invited Talk | Professor Richard WillsHead of Mechanical Engineering, University of Southampton

The soluble lead flow battery: Nepal demonstrator project