![Sanat Vibhas Modak](/sites/default/files/styles/headshot/public/media/images/sanat-vibhas-modak-6046-uuid-669b5087236bc.png?itok=TpAyxMD9)
![Sanat Vibhas Modak](/sites/default/files/styles/headshot/public/media/images/sanat-vibhas-modak-6046-uuid-669b5087236bc.png?itok=TpAyxMD9)
- Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 2023
- M.S.E., Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 2019
- B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Birla Institute of Tech and Sci, 2017
- M.S., Economics, Birla Institute of Tech and Sci, 2014
- Graduate Student Research Assistant, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 2019-2024.
- 2021-present, Electrochemical society, Member.
Dr. Modak's areas of expertise include experimental and computational studies of lithium-ion batteries, analysis of redox-flow batteries (RFBs), exploration of electrochemical CO2 separation methods, development of novel organic redox-active molecules, identification of and mitigation strategies for molecular degradation pathways in batteries. He is proficient in several spectroscopic techniques like ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV-Vis), mass spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), along with abuse testing of lithium-ion batteries and use of flow/fuel cell hardware. Apart from the field of batteries, Dr. Modak has experience developing heat transfer and CFD simulations for solid and multi-phase problems.
Prior to Joining exponent, Dr. Modak held internship/co-op positions with Lordstown Motors, where he worked on computational modeling of electric vehicle battery aging and Mercedes Benz R&D India, where he worked on projects related to computation modelling of HVAC systems and automotive seats. He completed his PhD at the University of Michigan, where he was engaged in research in the field of developing novel organic, and earth abundant inorganic chemistries for RFBs for economical and safe, grid-scale energy storage applications. His research included studies that combined ultraviolet spectroscopy, flow cell analysis and data-driven methods to deconvolute degradation mechanisms in organic redox-active molecules and has studied the effects of functionalization on their stability and electrochemical performance.
Dr. Modak has also worked on testing sodium superionic conductor (NaSICON) membranes due to their ability to prevent reactant crossover, earth-abundant precursors, studied their performance and stability under a wide range of operating conditions, and demonstrated a stable RFB with a low-cost manganese-based cathode chemistry. In addition, he developed physics and controls-based models for simulating the performance and life-cycle of batteries, dropwise and filmwise condensation through porous microstructured wicks, and hybrid-electric vehicle powertrains.