Bio
Sergiy Kalnaus combines numerical modeling and simulations with experiments to study charge and mass transport and develop safer batteries. His core expertise is in mechanics of materials, computational modeling, fatigue, and fracture mechanics. He is interested in establishing constitutive models for deformation and failure of materials at different length scales - from automotive battery modules subjected to impact loading to micro-scale strain engineering of ferroelectric materials. His recent passion is structure-mechanics correlations in invert glasses, such as ORNL’s glassy ion conductors LiPON and LiSiPON for solid state batteries. Due to relaxed topological constraints, invert glasses possess rich variety of mechanisms to respond to the applied mechanical load and these mechanisms are not yet fully studied. Understanding of these mechanisms will aid development of next generation of glasses with enhanced ductility.
Awards
R&D 100 Award for development of High Energy Density Lithium-Ion Batteries with Extreme Fast Charging Capability Based on Metalized Polymer Current Collectors, 2025
Inventor Award, License to Safire Technology Group, December 9 2022
Technology Commercialization Award, BTRY Inc., December 13, 2021
R&D 100 Award for development of Safe Impact Resistant Electrolyte (SAFIRE) for Li-ion batteries, 2017
SEA: Significant Event Award, for development of Safe Impact Resistant Electrolyte (SAFIRE) for Li-ion batteries. DOE UT-Battelle, 2017
Distinguished Award for Scientific/Technical Contribution, DOE UT-Battelle, 2015
SEA: Significant Event Award, for the release of Virtual Integrated Battery Environment (VIBE). DOE UT-Battelle, 2015
Trademarks and Patents
U.S. Patent 12,355,102 B2 "Method of Manufacturing a Thin Film Composite Solid Electrolyte", X. Chen, N.J. Dudney, S. Kalnaus, M.J. Palmer, A.S. Westover. 6/8/2025
U.S. Patent 12,237,469 B2 "Battery With Shear Thickening, Impact Resistant Electrolytes", B.L. Armstrong, G.M. Veith, S. Kalnaus, H. Wang, K.L. Browning, K.M. Cooley. 2/25/2025
U.S. Patent 11,824,162 B2 "Battery With Shear Thickening, Impact Resistant Electrolytes", B.L. Armstrong, G.M. Veith, S. Kalnaus, H. Wang, K.L. Browning, K.M. Cooley. 11/21/2023
U.S. Patent 11,824,163 B2 "Method of Making a Passively Impact Resistant Battery", B.L. Armstrong, G.M. Veith, S. Kalnaus, H. Wang, K.L. Browning, K.M. Cooley. 11/21/2023
U.S. Patent 11,233,271 B2 "Fabrication of Films and Coatings Used to Activate Shear Thickening, Impact Resistant Electrolytes", B.L. Armstrong, G.M. Veith, S. Kalnaus, H. Wang, K.L. Browning, K.M. Cooley. 1/25/2022
U.S. Patent 10,347,945 B2 "Stabilized Shear Thickening Electrolyte", G. Veith, B. Armstrong, K.L. Browning, H. Wang, S. Kalnaus. 7/9/2019
U.S. Patent 10,347,934 B2 “Shear Activated Impact-Resistant Electrolyte” B.L. Armstrong, S. Kalnaus, W.E. Tenhaeff, G.M. Veith, H. Wang, K.L. Browning, B.H. Shen. 7/9/2019
US Patent 9,337,470 B2 “Method and Apparatus for In-Situ Drying Investigation and Optimization of Slurry Drying Methodology.” B.L. Armstrong, C. Daniel, J.Y. Howe, J.O. Kiggans, A.S. Sabau, S. Kalnaus, D.L. Wood III. 5/10/2016
U.S. Patent 10,637,100 B2 "Fabrication of films and coatings used to activate shear thickening, impact resistant electrolytes." B.L. Armstrong, G.M. Veith, S. Kalnaus, H. Wang, K.L. Browning, K.M. Cooley. 4/28/2020