Robert was born in Poland and later moved with his family to Belgium, where he studied chemistry at UCLouvain in Louvain-la-Neuve. He completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees there.
During the first year of his master’s, he did an internship at ICMAB in Barcelona, working in the group of Alexandre Ponrouch. There, he focused on the anode side of calcium batteries. For his master’s thesis, he shifted focus to the cathode, developing coordination polymer-based cathode materials.
These two experiences got him interested in understanding the whole calcium battery system, which led him to start a PhD in the group of Prof. Alexandru Vlad. Now, he’s working on both sides of the battery, focusing on calcium electrodeposition, organic cathode and putting together a complete battery cell.
Why did you become interested in batteries?
At UCLouvain, the focus during my studies was mainly on organic chemistry, and there was less emphasis on materials science. So when it came time to choose a topic for my internship, I wanted to explore something less familiar.
I found batteries really interesting because the field is so interdisciplinary. It brings together organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry and engineering.
What are you working on within Ecobat?
I'm working on developing new cathode materials and electrolytes for calcium metal batteries. On the electrolyte side, I'm collaborating closely with Dr. Andrii Kachmar to find the right electrolyte formulations that work well with calcium metal.
Working in the calcium battery field is both challenging and motivating. Calcium is one of the few metals that could realistically compete with lithium in terms of energy density, and it’s also more sustainable and abundant. That makes the idea of building a working calcium metal cell really exciting.
Compared to other alternatives like sodium or potassium, calcium has some key advantages. It can provide a higher output voltage, and better gravimetric and volumetric capacity than sodium metal for example. As a result, its energy density of calcium (product of voltage and capacity) is the closest to that of lithium metal.
Other transition metal alternatives come with compromises: potassium, for example, offers lower capacity, while magnesium provides lower voltage. However, sodium and potassium are easier to adapt if you start from existing lithium battery technology. Whereas calcium is divalent, which means that it brings completely different chemistry, and therefore new challenges. Since the calcium battery field really started to gain momentum around 2015, it's still relatively young. There are a lot of open questions and hurdles to overcome, but that also makes it a fascinating area to work in.
How do you see the batteries of the future?
In my opinion, lithium won't be completely replaced anytime soon. Instead, we’ll need to develop different battery technologies depending on the application.
For example, calcium could be a great option for large-scale energy storage, like power grids, because it’s cheaper and more abundant. But when it comes to electric vehicles, lithium still performs better and will probably stay the top choice. At the same time, calcium is safer and would not lead to battery fires.
So I think the future is about creating the right battery for the right job, rather than finding one perfect solution for everything.
What’s the weirdest or most surprising fact you’ve learned in battery research?
At first, batteries seem pretty straightforward: you need an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. But in reality, putting all three together and making them work as a system is incredibly difficult.
You might develop an excellent cathode, but then you can’t find an electrolyte that works with it. Or you find a great electrolyte that works with the anode, but it doesn't match the cathode. It’s like a puzzle where the pieces don’t always fit together, even if they look perfect on their own.
In the calcium battery field, this is a constant challenge. The field is still relatively young and evolving, but calcium chemistry is so complex that it's hard to get consistent results. There's also a lack of standard methodology, which means many experiments from literature hard to reproduce.
If you could work with any scientist (living or historical), who would it be and why?
I would choose Jean-Marie Tarascon. He has made huge contributions to the field of lithium batteries and is a really important figure in battery research. I would love to learn from his expertise and way of working.
What do you think you can do better than other people?
I’m not sure if I’d say “better,” but in the calcium battery field, I’m very familiar with the literature. I know what’s working, what’s not, and where the challenges are.
I also really enjoy communicating science. I like talking to people, explaining what we’re working on, and helping more people understand our research. I am involved in communication and dissemination for Alex Vlad’s group. Since I genuinely enjoy doing it, I think that’s what helps me do it well.
To connect with Robert, add him on Linkedin.
To learn more about Prof. Alex Vlad group's research, visit their website.