Overview
Personal Profile
Donal Finegan is a staff scientist at the NLR Center for Integrated Mobility Systems. His work focuses on understanding degradation and failure mechanisms of Li-ion batteries and taking steps to improve the performance and safety of cells and battery systems. His research has spanned numerous conventional and next generation energy-storage materials, such as various transition metal oxides, silicon, graphites, composite electrodes, and sulfur-based solid electrolytes. He is a frequent user of international synchrotron facilities and has pioneered the application of high-speed X-ray imaging for diagnosing battery failure mechanisms during thermal runaway. He actively engages with industry, research institutions and universities. He is a visiting lecturer at University College London (UCL), has published over 50 journal articles, and his work has received several internationally recognized awards.
Research Interests
Education/Academic Qualification
Bachelor, Chemical Engineering, University College Dublin
PhD, Chemical Engineering, University College London
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Collaborations and Top Research Areas From the Past 5 Years
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4D Insights Into Lithium-Ion Battery Sidewall Rupture During Thermal Runaway: Article No. 103095
Fransson, M., Broche, L., Pfaff, J., Venturelli, M., Buckwell, M., Fordham, A., Kirchner-Burles, C., Reid, H., Gedara, M., Schopferer, S., Finegan, D., Robinson, J., Jervis, R., Rack, A., Rack, A., Darcy, E. & Shearing, P., 2026, In: Cell Reports Physical Science. 7, 2, 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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BMINN: Learning Chemical Potentials and Parameters from Voltage Data for Multi-Phase Battery Modeling: Article No. 104997
Huang, Y., Zhu, Q., Wik, T., Finegan, D., Li, Y. & Zou, C., 2026, In: Energy Storage Materials. 86, 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2 Scopus Citations -
Investigation of a Thermocapacitive Cycle by Aqueous Supercapacitors for Multifunctional Heat Pump and Energy Storage: Article No. 121465
Kim, J., Ozdogru, B., Finegan, D. & James, N., 2026, In: Energy Conversion and Management. 357, 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
1 Scopus Citations -
Laser Ablation of High-Loading Li-Ion Battery Electrodes Improves Accessible Capacity and Cycle Life for Behind-The-Meter Storage: Article No. 238969
Pereira, D., Tancin, R., Trask, S., Fink, K., Stiles, J., Martin, T., Ha, Y., Finegan, D., Burrell, A., Tremolet de Villers, B. & Harrison, K., 2026, In: Journal of Power Sources. 664, 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
1 Scopus Citations -
Lattice-Oxygen-Driven Selective Oxidation Strategy for Stable Argyrodite Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries: Article No. 104986
Nafis, M., Liang, Z., Biby, A., Rodriguez, D., Tancin, R., Finegan, D., Musgrave, C., Lee, S. & Ban, C., 2026, In: Energy Strategy Reviews. 86, 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Awards and Honors
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Institution of Chemical Engineers Global Young Researcher Award
Finegan, D. (Recipient), 2018
Prize: Honorary award
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NASA Johnson Space Center Directors Group Achievement Award
Finegan, D. (Recipient), 2019
Prize: Honorary award
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The Royal Society of Chemistry Sheelagh Campbell Memorial Award
Finegan, D. (Recipient), 2015
Prize: Honorary award