Born in Andhra Pradesh, India, Rambabu began his academic journey at Silver Jubilee College in Kurnool, India, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Chemistry. Driven by a growing interest in analytical sciences, he pursued a Master’s degree in Chemistry at Sri Krishnadevaraya University, India, specializing in Analytical Chemistry.
His passion for research led him north to the Indian Institute of Technology in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, where he completed his PhD. During this time, he explored coordination chemistry, both inorganic and organic, with a strong focus on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). His PhD work centered on the development of metal-organic materials for environmental, catalytic and biological applications.
After completing his PhD, he joined the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) as a national postdoctoral fellow, continuing his work on MOFs. Later, Rambabu moved to Europe, where he became a postdoc at Prof. Alex Vlad’s group at UC Louvain in Belgium.
Given your background in MOFs and coordination chemistry, how did you come to study batteries?
During my first postdoc at JNCASR, I was already working on photo-electrochemistry, so I was actively looking for something in that direction. That’s when I got the opportunity to join Alex Vlad’s group. He was specifically looking for someone with experience in MOFs, so it was a good fit. I moved here in 2019 and quickly picked up everything I needed to know about batteries.
The research was going really well. I was getting good results, and then COVID hit. Like many others, I had to stop lab work. I was also really worried about my family, so I decided to return to India to be with them. For a year, I worked in the pharmaceutical industry in R&D, focusing on analytical chemistry. But I stayed in touch with Alex, and after a while, I reached out again. In 2021, I returned to Belgium and rejoined the group. I’ve been here ever since.
What research are you doing?
Actually, most of the work I do at UC Louvain is directly related to ECOBAT. Right now, I am mainly focused on organic cathodes for lithium-metal and post-lithium batteries. We usually either synthesize new materials or start with a commercial material the ligand with metal ion: lithium, sodium, magnesium, and so on. Then we assemble the full battery cell and test how it is performing over time.
Lithium-metal batteries are considered the next generation of rechargeable power sources after lithium-ion batteries. That’s because lithium metal can deliver around 10 times the specific capacity of graphite, which is currently used as the anode in lithium-ion batteries.
Why work on organic cathodes?
Commercial Lithium-ion batteries usually pair the graphite anode with inorganic cathodes like LiCoO₂, NMC materials ₄. The main challenge lies in the cathode materials. These materials contain cobalt and nickel, which are considered strategic raw materials. This means that they are essential for green and digital technologies, as well as for defence and space applications; however, there is a real concern about supply gaps.
To reduce this dependency, we are developing organic cathode materials that can provide similar redox properties. The idea is to use only carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and phosphorus: just five elements that are more sustainable and widely available.
First, we will test the organic cathodes in lithium-ion batteries, and subsequently transfer their use to post–Li-ion systems such as sodium or calcium. This approach will help reduce our reliance on lithium, which is also a critical raw material.
What electrolyte do you use?
For lithium-metal batteries, I mostly use LP30, which is a commercial electrolyte. For sodium, there is not much available commercially, as these batteries are now at development stage, so we usually prepare a custom mixture using commercially available salts and solvents.
How do you collaborate within the research group?
I work closely with Robert and often help Andrii with electrolyte synthesis. Even though we each focus on different parts of the research, we stay in constant communication and support each other’s work. For the calcium-based cathodes, Robert is leading that part. I also collaborate with Vasudeva on the synthesis and optimization of cathodes. Overall, I work both independently and as part of the team.
What are the results so far?
The research is going well, but it takes time. There is a lot of optimization involved. We have seen good results with lithium, and now we are starting to test sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. It’s a long process, but we are making progress.
What do you think about the recent news on sodium batteries from electric car companies?
I think lithium will still dominate the market, especially with LFP, LMFP batteries, which are already well-developed and perform very well. Sodium might enter the scene, but probably more for stationary storage applications rather than electric vehicles. That’s because sodium has lower volumetric energy density.
There has been a lot of buzz about sodium batteries, and while some of it is true, not everything you read is accurate. Companies usually keep their materials confidential, so it is hard to know what is really going on. From a scientific perspective, it is difficult to verify these claims. A lot of the marketing uses big words and hype, but the reality often looks different.
What is the main challenge in developing organic cathode materials?
One big challenge is finding molecules with low molecular weight, because that is necessary to achieve high capacity. At the same time, the organic molecule must not dissolve in the electrolyte; otherwise, we lose capacity over time. Additionally, it is important to ensure good ionic and electronic conductivity for efficient charge transport, enabling fast charging and minimizing conductive carbon, which acts as dead mass in batteries.
What projects are you working on in your free time?
Outside of research, I spend most of my time with my two kids, who are 5 and 7 years old. I also enjoy reading, especially books on self-realization, and spiritual enlightenment. I am really interested in Indian epics such as the Puranas and Itihasas, including the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Bhagavatam. It is a deep and complex stories about ancient kings and queens, and devotees but if you go beyond the surface, it has a rich philosophical and spiritual dimension that I find very meaningful.
Read more about the group of Alex Vlad here.