Jordan Rubio

I worked with cell manufacturing equipment vendors to specify cell designs in a 2Ah and 20Ah pouch cell form factor as well as 18650 and 21700 form factors to bring in pilot scale manufacturing capabilities in house. This was to drive R&D of our SiOx powder at more relevant cell size and influence powder coating decisions. Having this in house capability was also to sample out to customers cells with our powder and to collaborate with other innovative companies, such as electrolyte companies. I was also responsible for third party manufacturing and prototyping, led successful builds at University of Michigan, Novonix, Nanotech Energy, and the BIC that drove cycles of learning for the operations team. I was the primary contact for managing ongoing Department of Defense grants that led to successive rounds of funding by achieving cell builds that delivered superior cell performance than other market solutions. I refined a cylindrical cell model to more accurately predict cell capacities based on cell design parameters, used CT scanning to further train the model for accuracy.

As a research scientist at a battery materials manufacturing company I have been leveraged into utilizing my industry experience to bring new test methods in-house that are industry standard. My experience in designing larger format cells has translated into new formats for testing our material for customer adoption. I have also extensively advised and developed a white paper on mixing procedures for utilization of our novel Si-C material. This has had an effect of a more successful adoption of our material for our customers and reduces the evaluation time for our customers.

In my role on the technology integration team, my primary responsibilities were to develop technology and chemistry packages geared towards specific awarded projects. I worked closely with the cell development and manufacturing teams to ensure that the chemistry at the R&D level was aligned with their goals and that practical solutions are designed for manufacturability. Within this role I have successfully developed an internal data catalog on a new chemistry that enables >300 Wh/kg technology nodes. I have also implemented new techniques to reduce DCIR of cells to meet customer goals, with an overall successful reduction of >25%. These techniques were developed at the R&D level and have seen implementation on production cells. I have utilized various material characterization techniques and have a strong fundamental electrochemistry background that is important to success in this role. However, my interactions as a member on a cross functional team have given me a holistic view of chemistry optimization, particularly with processability and cost considerations of the final product. With my background in pilot lab coating and cell assembly, I supported the anode team in scaling up promising formulations for testing in 2Ah cell format. This involved developing new mixing procedures to adapt to novel dilatant binders to ensure uniform mixing. I also did coating support for the cathode pre-lithiation team and assisted with cell builds to scale-up the new technology and provide additional data to be transferred to the cell development and manufacturing teams.

Materials and Cell Engineer/Lead Cathode Development Engineer: As the lead cathode development engineer, at the R&D level I was in charge of formulation optimization with goals to increase discharge capability and increase cycle life. I evaluated new vendors for active materials and introduced novel exotic carbons into Pellion's base formula. The optimization allowed for a reduction in inactive materials in the formula and increased both volumetric and gravimetric energy density. The overall improvements to the carbon conductive package also increased rate capability and cycle life. I developed a novel expedited gas evolution test to correlate formulation changes, both in electrolyte and cathode, with increased or decreased gas generation. At the pilot scale level I was in charge of slurry development, which included optimization of slurry mixing and coating (both on slot die and comma coaters). Formulation optimizations at the R&D level allowed for Pellion's unique slurry composition to be coated on a slot die coater at 2x the speed and with greater control over end to end coat weight. Cell Design: As a cell engineer I have experience tearing down and reverse engineering commercials for cell design learning. As the lead cathode engineer, I had also advised on coating, calendering, and slitting specifications for cathodes made offsite both at an overseas contract manufacturer but also third party sites domestically. I have extensive experience with post-mortem analysis and determining failure modes using root cause failure analysis. I assisted with FMEA on new cell form factors and had advised on both safety testing and job safety analysis of current cycling practices.

Cathode Formulation, Testing, and General Lab Operations -Part of my responsibilities as a chemical engineering co-op was to facilitate the electrochemical testing of novel cathode materials on both Arbin and MACCOR testers. In addition to the electrochemical testing and analysis, I was familiarized with prepping and running samples for characterization in an scanning electron and energy dispersive microscope (SEM/EDS), an x-ray diffractometer (XRD), and an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP). Electrolyte Formulation -Another part of my responsibilities included learning the process for preparing our various standard electrolytes for use in magnesium cells. I assisted senior scientists with the preparations of uncommon and novel electrolytes used for electrolyte research and development. I qualified each electrolyte for use by measuring its conductivity and analyzing the cyclic voltammetry curves on a Versastat tester. I performed Karl Fisher Coulometric titration on various salts, solvents, and prepared electrolyte solutions to determine water content.

Research and Development of Cathode Materials for Various Purposes (EV, PHEV, HEV) As a chemistry intern for a cathode researcher, I was in charge of executing and building cells beginning from the slurry mixing stage up to the data extraction and analysis. I became proficient in cathode mixing, casting, calendering and punching, coin cell assembly, and schedule test writing on both Arbin and MACCOR testers. I tested a variety of cathode additives designed to prevent overcharge, improve cycle life, and increase rate capability of A123's standard cathode. I successfully identified a process improvement that resulted in cost reduction as well as improved cell safety. I managed other responsibilities like setting up, calibrating, and performing safety analysis via DSC testing; assisting the electrolyte team with gas chromatography sample collection; as well as preparing and testing novel anode materials against A123's standard cathode. -Qualified in various mechanical property testing of cathodes and cell building including: DSC Testing, Arbin and MACCOR electrochemical testing, Particle Size Distribution Testing, Glovebox work, Clean/Dry room certified, Thru Resistance Testing, Electrode Adhesion Testing, SwageLok cell build

My degree in Engineering Management is primarily structured around Engineering Leadership. While in school I have also pursued a Gordon Engineering Leadership Certificate in parallel. Relevant classes to both management and leadership have been in project management, product development, and leadership development. Within the M.S. program I took classes in operations research, project management, engineering economic analysis, and statistics.