Electrochemistry podcasts

Jonathan Webb discusses lithium-ion battery chemistry with Neeraj Sharma of UNSW, explaining why prolonged full charging or deep discharge can shorten battery life and what the underlying processes mean for phone and electric-vehicle battery engineering.

Hosted by Jonathan Webb

Benjamin Thompson and Shamini Bundell discuss two scientific stories from the Nature Briefing. The first concerns a technique for detecting lead that may help researchers read damaged Roman scrolls from Herculaneum without unrolling the fragile, charred material. The second examines a biodegradable, paper-inspired edible battery and its potential use in medical devices inside the body. The publisher’s episode page and official podcast feed both identify this 25 September 2026 episode; the discussion lasts 11 minutes 32 seconds.

Lin Ma discusses the development of batteries for electricity grids, including the promise and limitations of sodium-ion systems. The conversation considers safety, materials choices and the role of storage in electricity systems that depend increasingly on renewable generation.

Hosted by Hamish Johnston

Qichao Hu, founder of Molecular Universe and CEO of SES AI, discusses the difference between building AI research tools and delivering new materials. Using battery development as an example, he traces hypothesis generation, candidate formulation, property prediction, experimental ranking, and autonomous synthesis and testing. The conversation examines the difficult connection between molecular properties and device performance, especially the solid-electrolyte interface, and why reliable experimental data and simulation calibration remain central obstacles. Hosted by Ravid Shwartz Ziv and Allen Roush; watch the complete episode on the publisher's YouTube channel.

Hosted by Ravid Shwartz Ziv, Allen Roush

Mariana Kneppers, Patrick Walter and Neil Withers compare competing cathode materials for electric-vehicle batteries and the tradeoffs among cost, safety and performance. They also discuss a photocatalyst that uses spent car-battery acid to help convert plastic waste into useful chemicals.

Hosted by Mariana Kneppers

Melissa and Jam explore reverse osmosis through molecular motion, pressure and membrane separation. They also discuss limits and waste in water purification, questions about aluminium foil in dishwashers and sacrificial metals, and how mixtures of differently sized solid particles can separate through the Brazil-nut effect.

Hosted by Melissa, Jam