Students demonstrate a chemistry experiment with professor Kimberly See observing in the background (Photo – CaltechMagazine)
On Wednesday night, Feb. 26, Caltech chemistry professor Kimberly See delivered a public lecture highlighting her group’s cutting-edge research into next-generation battery technologies that could pave the way for more efficient and sustainable energy solutions.
By Pat Smith
In her talk, titled “Chasing Sustainable Battery Chemistries for the Future,” See explored the science behind lithium-ion batteries, a technology found in nearly every home, powering devices from smartphones to laptops. She broke down how these batteries function at the chemical level, offering attendees a deeper understanding of the reactions that allow batteries to store and release energy.
See also addressed the limitations of current lithium-ion battery chemistry, explaining the challenges researchers face in improving performance, safety and sustainability. Her lab’s work focuses on developing alternative chemistries that could overcome these barriers and support the growing global demand for cleaner, more reliable energy storage.
At pre-festivities prior to the lecture, outside Beckman Auditorium, members of See’s research group staged a series of spectacular, fiery demonstrations for the public. The eye-catching displays highlighted the energetic reactions central to battery chemistry, drawing a crowd and setting an electrifying tone for the evening’s discussion on the future of sustainable energy.
> You can see a video of some of the demonstrations on our Instagram.
One of the cool demonstrations involved zinc and lemons (Photo – Pat Smith)
Pat Smith at the pre-event festivities (Photo courtesy of Pat Smith)
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