#FaradayPathways Gwen Chimonides
Dr Gwen Chimonides’ career journey is a testament to her dedication and resilience as a scientist. Her #FaradayPathway highlights how she’s transferred her skills from cell biology to battery research, and explores her current project: scaling up porous silicon production for use as an anode material as part of a Faraday Institution Industry Sprint. Gwen reflects on the challenges she has faced by being both a researcher and a mother, advising early career researchers to balance career goals with personal aspirations.
A path to chemistry and research
Gwen’s passion for science was apparent from her early school days.
“I wanted to be a vet when I was younger. The sciences were a very close second and there’s never really been anything else I’ve been interested in. I just understood how the pieces fit together in maths and science.”
Gwen completed her bachelor’s at Aston University, before pursuing a PhD in polymer chemistry.
Gwen in the lab.
“I completed my bachelor’s in Biological Chemistry – a broad course providing extensive knowledge of the sciences and how they link together. I kept this broad approach throughout my studies.
“During my PhD I worked on polymer-inorganic composites. Initially, my PhD research aimed to focus on quantum dots with my EPSRC CASE industrial partner, Nanoco Technologies Ltd, to help enhance TV screen colour. However, due to publication restrictions from the industrial link, I moved sideways into biology to gain more publishing experience.
“I started using polymer composites with organic fluorophores and later delivered polymers with proteins and enzymes into cells, gaining a lot of new cell biology skills. The fluorophores allowed the intracellular delivery and release of proteins and enzymes, being studied in vitro, to be followed by fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy.”
Transitioning to battery science
Gwen moved to the University of Sheffield in 2015 where she took her first postdoctoral position working on polymers for sensing technology across the civil and materials engineering departments. There, she worked with QCMs (quartz crystal microbalances) using polymers to detect analytes in water.
This work paved the way to her current role as a post-doctoral researcher in Professor Siddharth Patwardhan’s group, also at Sheffield, working on scaling up the production of porous silicon for battery anodes.
“I joined this project because I was interested in moving into battery science. The puzzle of scaling up reactions was also intriguing, so when the PDRA opportunity came up it gave me a convenient way to move into the battery sector.”
The Industry Sprint
Gwen with her poster at the #Faraday2024 conference.
Industry Sprints are one of the Faraday Institution’s mechanisms to bridge the gap between academic research and commercial application, bringing together multidisciplinary teams to tackle specific, commercially relevant challenges. Gwen and Siddharth’s sprint aims to develop a commercially viable, large-scale process for manufacturing a porous silicon material for use in lithium-ion battery anodes. This material provides higher energy density than traditional graphite anodes.
“The race is on to manufacture the silicon used in batteries. We need to make batteries lighter and more efficient, especially for premium automotive applications. It’s crucial to advance this technology soon.”
Gwen and her team have been working on magnesiothermic reduction, a promising method for producing high-quality porous silicon, but faced hurdles with scale-up.
“When scaling up, issues such as exothermic energy release and the washing and purification process become more complex. Porous silicon can oxidise back to silicon dioxide in water due to the longer contact times. We’ve found solutions to these processes and scaled up from grams to hundreds of grams of product, which is great.”
Gwen highlighted the innovation of her team and the benefits of collaboration with WMG and the Faraday Institution.
“We’ve developed our own processes to enhance quantification of components in blended battery anodes, and have manufactured our own equipment and instruments for this project, which has been fascinating. We’ve also had the opportunity to share our developments with partners WMG, and use their facilities.
“Collaborating with the Faraday Institution and WMG has been invaluable. It has provided access to unparalleled knowledge in battery testing and has made us feel part of a larger community. The exchange of knowledge and dedicated conferences have been particularly beneficial.”
From lab to market with ShefCURe
Alongside the sprint, Gwen has participated in the University of Sheffield’s Commercialisation of University Research (ShefCURe) programme to explore the commercial landscape and potential of the group’s research. The project has helped to develop a value proposition, identify the minimum viable product, build a business model and engage with potential customers.
Gwen receiving the Faraday Institution 2024 conference poster prize for Industrial Context.
“ShefCURe taught me a lot about translating lab research to market-ready technology. We learned how to identify revenue streams, customer touchpoints and other business aspects that scientists often overlook.
“Market research showed that industry would prefer to buy the silicon directly rather than license the technology to make it themselves, which was a major finding for us.”
With the support of Sheffield’s commercialisation team, Gwen and her colleagues aim to spin out a synthesis company within the next year.
Overcoming challenges, advice and looking ahead
Balancing a demanding research career with family life has not been easy for Gwen. She acknowledges the sacrifices required and emphasises the importance of flexible and supportive work environments.
“Juggling being a mum and a researcher has been challenging. Academia often requires moving for jobs, but I haven’t been willing to constantly uproot my family. Most positions are fixed-term, so I focused on regions close to home, narrowing my options significantly.
“Flexibility in my job has been crucial. Working in a university allows for a more understanding environment, which is essential for balancing family and work.”
Gwen’s advice for early career researchers was a reminder not to lose sight of personal aspirations.
“Having children alongside the demands of research can get overwhelming. It’s essential to recognise your ambitions and plan accordingly; you don’t need to give 200% all the time. Prioritising is crucial; I took things slowly while my children were young. I’d say to prioritise your family during those formative years – things do get easier over time.”
As for her future, Gwen is focused on completing her current project and continuing to advance battery research.
“I’m very goal-oriented in the short term. My current ambition is to see my project through to completion. After that, I’ll assess my options. I would love to stay in battery research and improve my skills in that area.”
Read more:
- See what the judges said about Gwen’s award winning poster at the Faraday Institution Conference 2024.
#FaradayPathway written by Rebecca Dawes, Science Communications Intern, and published in September 2024.