As a Materials Scientist, Dr. Brian Ingram is interested in developing a deep understanding of electrochemical and charge transport phenomenon to enable energy-related technologies. He is an expert in charge transfer in solid state materials and has extensive experience in materials characterization including conventional and synchrotron radiation measurements such as x-ray diffraction and x-ray absorption as well as high temperature solid-state impedance spectroscopy. Dr. Ingram finds energy storage and conversion technologies incredible interesting since they present a set of very demanding and dynamic conditions in which we need materials to operate. He is dedicated to development and understanding of energy storage and conversion in Li-ion (as well as beyond-Li-ion, e.g., Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ batteries) batteries and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) – as well as extending electrochemical processes to new technologies.

Dr. Brian Ingram is the Group Leader of the Materials and Device Evaluation Group which consists of the Electrochemical Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory (EADL), the Materials and Chemistry Analysis Laboratory supporting the Post-Test Facility, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Laboratory that combine to provide characterization of materials and device performance. For instance, these facilities are supported by the DOE to provide independent evaluation battery performance and evaluation of materials degradation in cycled batteries.

Dr. Ingram is also the Director of the Center for Steel Electrification by Electrosynthesis (C-STEEL), which aims to develop a cost-effective electrochemical process that can improve the energy efficiency of steel making. Today, iron and steel production account for 5-6% of the total manufacturing energy consumption in the United States due, in part, to the high process temperatures required. C-STEEL is an DOE Office of Science Energy Earthshot Research Center, in support of the Industrial Heat Shot of the Department’s Energy Earthshot Initiative.

Previously, Dr. Ingram was the Lead Principal Investigator of the Science of Materials Complexity (SMC) section of the Joint Center for Energy Research (JCESR) centered at Argonne, one of the Department of Energy’s Energy Innovation Hubs. JCESR tackled the basic scientific questions and challenges providing the foundation for disruptive high-performance battery materials that enable a diversity of next-generation batteries technologies. The focus of the SMC thrust was to understand the fundamental interactions and transport of multivalent cations (i.e., Mg and Ca) in solid-state materials. Additionally, Dr. Ingram has supported materials development and characterization of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). As the PI of the SOFC Manufacturing project in support of the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management to establish key materials properties and tolerances that affect stack performance reliability.