Yuan Gao
Dr. Yuan Gao is a Li-ion battery materials scientist and executive. His research began in the 1990s as a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Jeff Dahn’s laboratory, where he collaborated with Moli Energy to characterize and optimize manganese spinel cathode materials.
During a 14-year tenure at FMC Corporation's Lithium Division, Dr. Gao developed and patented cathode technologies designed to increase charge voltage and mitigate impedance buildup—chemistries that remain standard in contemporary portable electronics. Transitioning from applied research to commercial operations, he ultimately served as Global Marketing Director at FMC. He subsequently held the position of President and CEO at Pulead Technology Industry Co., directing the industrial-scale manufacturing of Li-ion cathode materials in China. He brings a unique perspective on the industrial realities of the Li-ion market in North America and Asia. (Episode S1E9)