Biography
A battery enthusiast in the vertical of lithium-ion battery. My core strength is the
development of batteries from cell to module level in both cylindrical and prismatic formats.
Further, my main interests are in slurry mixing and its properties (Rheology), electrode fabrication, calendaring, moisture content determination, and evaluation/optimization of various commercial active materials of lithium-ion battery.
My most of the work has been done on pilot plant scale for various cell formats. Involved in the establishment of LIB dry rooms and pilot plant equipment's.
Knowledge on battery testing like Cylindrical, Prismatic, Pouch, and Coin type for LFP/NMC/Graphite/LTO cells.
Theoretical/practical training and demonstration of the LIB process has also been done for industry personnel.
I got involved in many batteries related projects and completed them successfully.
For the several years, the attention of battery market has been shifted to High energy density lithium-ion batteries, due to their weight and size, enabling longer runtimes for devices. Added to it along with high energy density, enhancement in endurance and cycle life is one the key focuses on present battery field research. Accordingly, many industries and OEMS are being adopted their own R&D plans in order to demonstrate the latest technology.
Finally, the other important factor is cost reduction in the final cell and battery pack. Keeping all these in view, we also working towards that direction in order to get the best lithium-ion battery cell or battery pack.
I will always ensure the balance between academia and industry for the projects which are handling, so that the results will satisfy as per the requirement.
Moreover, simplifying each process is the biggest challenge in any R&D, so I continuously pursue it to get the best with minimum available resources. Moreover, adopting a strict protocol will facilitate the best outcome.
I have also Guided and supervised the students for the completion of M.Tech, B.Tech and M.Sc projects.
Research Areas of Interest
LITHIUM-ION BATTERY, AQUEOUS BINDERS, ELECTRODE FABRICATION, RHEOLOGY
Highest Qualification
Other Qualifications
List of Publications
Conference Proceedings
1) V.V.N. Phani Kumar delivered an invited lecture on "Micron-sized lithium iron phosphate as cathode using eco-friendly binders for lithium-ion batteries at 2nd International Meeting on Energy Storage Devices & Industry-Academia Conclave (IMESD-2023), held at IIT-Roorkee during 7-10 December 2023.
2) V.V.N. Phani Kumar attended the International Exhibitions & Conferences on 4th Materials Engineering & Technology exhibition and 14th Heat Treatment show at Mumbai during 2-4th November, 2022.
3) V.V.N. Phani Kumar delivered a talk on “Synthesis of In-Situ Carbon Coated Lithium Iron Phosphate Using Low-Cost Iron Precursors for Lithium-Ion Batteries at IISC, Bengaluru, for an Indo-French Laboratory of Solid-State Chemistry Workshop (LAFICS) during 3-4th October, 2022.
4) V.V.N. Phani Kumar made a poster on “Investigation of micron-sized lithium iron phosphate as cathode using aqueous binder for lithium-ion batteries" at “National conference on Energy Technologies” conducted by “Indian Institute of Technology Madras”, Chennai during 29-30th April, 2022.
5) V.V.N.Phanikumar, B.V. Appa Rao, K.V. Gobi, R. Gopalan, and R. Prakash, Tamarind kernel powder as a novel aqueous binder for graphite anode in lithium-ion batteries, December 16- 8, 2019, IIT-Roorkee.
6) V.V.N.Phanikumar, B.V. Appa Rao, R.Gopalan and R.Prakash, Polyvinyl alcohol and sodium alginate as alternate green binders of lithium titanium oxide anode for lithium-ion batteries.The 3rd National conference on Materials for energy conversion and storage, 8-20th October, 2018, IIT-BHU, Varnasi.
7) National conference on frontiers in chemical sciences and technologies (FCST) held at NIT-Warangal, 28 -29th January 2016, Warangal.
8) Oral presentation on Investigation on LiFePO4/C cathode prepared by eco-friendly polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) binder for lithium-ion battery at NMD-ATM, 13-16th November 2015, Coimbatore.
9) One-day workshop on “Emerging applications of laser technology in manufacturing” held at VIT University, 13th February 2015, Vellore.
Patents
1) A top-lid assembly for a battery cell and a method for producing the top-lid assembly
L. Babu, V.V.N. Phani Kumar, K. Shanmugam, A. Sivaraj, R. Prakash, R. Gopalan, T.N. Rao, (Filed) 2024, Indian Patent App.No. 202441016527.
Awards & Honours
1) V.V.N. Phani Kumar received the “Best Poster Award Certificate” for presenting a poster on “Investigation of micron-sized lithium iron phosphate as cathode using aqueous binder for lithium-ion batteries" at “National conference on Energy Technologies” conducted by “Indian Institute of Technology Madras”, Chennai during 29-30th April, 2022.
2) V.V.N. Phanikumar, B.V. Appa Rao, K.V. Gobi, R. Gopalan, and R. Prakash, Tamarind
kernel powder as a novel aqueous binder for graphite anode in lithium-ion batteries, December 16- 8, 2019, IIT-Roorkee. (Best Poster Award)
3) Received the 'Best Poster Award' for the poster presentation on '' Effect of polyvinyl
alcohol and sodium alginate aqueous binders on lithium titanium oxide anode for lithium-ion batteries" at National conference on frontiers in chemical sciences and technologies (FCST) held at NIT-Warangal, Warangal during 28 -29th January, 2016.