Matthew Keyser joined NREL in 1992 and today manages the electrochemical energy storage group, which focuses on battery materials analysis and diagnostics as well as modeling and systems evaluation to assess and optimize energy storage components at the materials, cell, pack, and systems levels.

During his decades-long tenure at the lab, his research has focused on various aspects of advanced vehicle technologies and systems. He developed an assortment of finite element thermal and structural models for hybrid electric vehicle components. He also fostered the growth of NREL’s energy storage research equipment and facilities, which now span more than 6,000 square feet of laboratory space and enable electrochemical material fabrication, safety analysis and characterization, and world-class thermal characterization.

He played a key role in the invention of NREL’s R&D 100 Award-winning Isothermal Battery Calorimeters, which make it possible to accurately measure heat generated by electric-drive vehicle batteries, analyze the effects of temperature on battery systems, and pinpoint ways to manage temperatures to optimize performance and lifespan.

Research Interests

Electric vehicles

Energy storage

Battery thermal analysis and management

Battery second use and recycling

Power electronics and electric machines

Transportation and mobility research

Education

B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, 1991

Featured Work

Developing Extreme Fast Charge Battery Protocols – A Review Spanning Materials to Systems, Journal of Power Sources (2022)

Thermal Runaway of Li-Ion Cells: How Internal Dynamics, Mass Ejection, and Heat Vary with Cell Geometry and Abuse Type, Journal of the Electrochemical Society (2022)

Compressible Battery Foams to Prevent Cascading Thermal Runaway in Li-Ion Pouch Batteries, Journal of Power Sources (2022)

Evaluating Temperature Dependent Degradation Mechanisms of Silicon-Graphite Electrodes and the Effect of Fluoroethylene Carbonate Electrolyte Additive, Electrochimica Acta (2021)

Electron Backscatter Diffraction for Investigating Lithium-Ion Electrode Particle Architectures, Cell Reports Physical Science (2021)

Modeling and Experiments to Identify High-Risk Failure Scenarios for Testing the Safety of Lithium-Ion Cells, Journal of Power Sources (2019)

Identifying the Cause of Rupture of Li‐Ion Batteries During Thermal Runaway, Advanced Science (2017)

Enabling Fast Charging – Battery Thermal Considerations, Journal of Power Sources (2017)

Enabling Fast Charging – Vehicle Considerations, Journal of Power Sources (2017)

Life Prediction Model for Grid-Connected Li-Ion Battery Energy Storage System, American Control Conference (2017)

Patents

Methods and Devices for Electrochemical System Analysis, U.S. Patent No. 10,107,696 B2 (2018)

Calorimeters for Testing Energy Storage Systems and Power Electronics, U.S. Patent No. 9,476,780 (2016)

Passive Safety Device and Internal Short Test Method for Energy Storage Cells and System, U.S. Patent No. 9,142,829 (2015)

Method for Charging a Hydrogen Getter, U.S. Patent No. 5,807,533 (1998)

Awards and Honors

Distinguished Achievement Award (2017)

NASA's 2017 Invention of the Year Runner-Up Award for the Battery Internal Short-Circuit Device (2017)

R&D 100 Award for Battery Internal Short-Circuit Device (2016)

R&D 100 Award for Isothermal Battery Calorimeters (2013)

Governor's Award for High Impact Research (2012)

Named as One of the Top 100 Innovators in the World under the Age of 35 by Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Technology Review Magazine (2002)

R&D 100 Award for Current-Interrupt Charging Algorithm for Lead-Acid Batteries (2001)

R&D 100 Award for BENCHMARC Catalytic Converter (1996)