![Keith Beers, Ph.D., P.E.](/sites/default/files/styles/headshot/public/media/images/keith-beers-37-uuid-669b3d80381ab.png?itok=RB_UTKBx)
![Keith Beers, Ph.D., P.E.](/sites/default/files/styles/headshot/public/media/images/keith-beers-37-uuid-669b3d80381ab.png?itok=RB_UTKBx)
- Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 2012
- B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, 2007
- Professional Engineer Chemical, California, #6695
- Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers – IEEE
- IEEE Senior Member
- IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society Member
- IEEE P1725 Working Group (Standard for Rechargeable Batteries for Cellular Telephones) Member
- American Society for Quality – ASQ
- ASQ Member
- Society of Automotive Engineers – SAE
- SAE Member
- SAE Micromobility Battery Standards Committee Member
Dr. Beers's areas of expertise include failure analysis of batteries and polymer materials, battery technology, and polymer science. He has significant expertise and experience in the design, qualification, performance, reliability, safety, and failure analysis of batteries of varying formats, chemistries, and applications - with particular emphasis on lithium-ion, solid state, and secondary lithium metal battery chemistries.
Additionally, Dr. Beers has specialized understanding of polymer materials used in electrochemical and filtration systems, and the associated transport phenomena. He has extensive experience applying his expertise in solving complex technical problems for his clients in a variety of industries including consumer products, medical devices, vehicles, and military and industrial equipment. He is also a member of standards committees related to batteries and battery safety.
In his battery consulting practice, Dr. Beers assists clients with issues related to the full life cycle of battery-containing products, ranging from the early design and qualification of batteries to the analysis of field returns for safety and performance issues. During the qualification stage, he utilizes a variety of methods to assist clients such as quality assessments, risk assessments (FMEA, fault tree analysis), non-standard testing tailored to end-use, accelerated aging, and forced thermal runaway testing. Dr. Beers also conducts investigations related to potential product recalls associated with battery safety concerns and provides technical support to attorneys engaged in legal proceedings involving battery technology, lawsuits and arbitrations. For his work in this area, he utilizes a variety of in-house testing capabilities, including: X-ray CT scanning, cell teardowns, full cell cross sections, reference electrode testing, charge / discharge cycling, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), imaging techniques (SEM, FIB), chemical analysis techniques (FTIR, EDS, GC-MS, and LC-MS), and mechanical and thermal testing. His work in this area builds upon previous experience in his graduate studies where he used X-ray scattering and electron imaging to characterize polymeric components in batteries, including solid polymer electrolytes, polymer separators, and polymer electrode binders.
In the field of polymer science, Dr. Beers consults on topics ranging from materials compatibility, small molecule migration and transport, adhesion, failure analysis, and polymers used in electrochemical and filtration applications. He has contributed to technology and product development, and the evaluation and mitigation of performance-based risk. Prior to joining Exponent, he conducted research focused on the design, synthesis, and characterization of model proton conducting semi-crystalline block copolymers for use in fuel cells. He determined how polymer crystallization affects the self-assembly, conductivity, and water uptake of these systems. In addition, Dr. Beers to develop a method of surface modifying battery separators to make them hydrophilic, facilitating their use as water filtration membranes and porous ion-exchange resins.
Keith's recent insights
![Group of Solid-State Battery cell units with sample QR code on black background](/sites/default/files/styles/filter_content/public/media/images/GettyImages-1530248127.jpg?itok=yyUpH-sm)