Prof. Figgemeier studied chemistry and did his PhD at the University of Paderborn. This was followed by academic research at the Universities of Dublin, Basel and Uppsala. In 2007 he joined Bayer Technology Services heading the materials and corrosion lab as well as the development of materials for battery applications. From 2012 on, he worked as application development engineer for battery materials at 3M Deutschland responsible for technical support of customers in Germany and Europe. His focus in battery materials was negative electrode materials of the next generation as well as assembly materials for battery backs and modules. Since 2016 he is principal investigator and group leader at the Helmholtz Institute Münster, Forschungszentrum Jülich (section Aachen) and he holds the chair for “Ageing and Reliability of Batteries” at the RWTH Aachen University. His current research activities span from fundamental ageing mechanisms in lithium ion and lithium metal batteries to the development of electrolyte additives and pre-lithiation technologies.