Gamechangers.
Power players.
Rock (and mineral)
stars.

Donald R. Sadoway, PhD

CEO/Chief Scientific Officer


Donald Sadoway has been changing the world through science for over 45 years. He is a one-man disruptor dedicated to developing solutions to the world's most pressing problems. He has been called an international thought leader, a visionary, and a leading developer of battery technology and 21st century metallurgy. Our world requires rapid, radical solutions that transform our relationship with energy. Donald Sadoway is leading a wave of innovation using extreme electrochemistry and building the technology to get to carbon zero.

Donald Sadoway's research seeks to establish the scientific underpinnings of technologies that make efficient use of energy and natural resources in an environmentally sound manner.

Extreme electrochemistry

The overarching theme of his work is applied electrochemistry in nonaqueous media focused on these technological challenges: environmentally sound electrochemical extraction of metals, liquid metal batteries for stationary storage applications, and solid-polymer-electrolyte batteries for portable power applications.

Credentials

Sadoway is Professor of Materials Chemistry Emeritus in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the MassachusettsInstitute of Technology. With a Ph.D. in Chemical Metallurgy from the University of Toronto he joined the MIT faculty in 1978. The author of over 180 scientific papers and inventor on 43 U.S. patents, his research is directed towards batteries for grid-scale storage and electric vehicles and towards environmentally sound metals extraction technologies.

Accomplishments

His accomplishments include the invention of the liquid metal battery for large-scale stationary storage and the invention of molten oxide electrolysis for carbon-free metals production. He is a co-founder of six companies: Ambri, Boston Metal, Lunar Resources, Avanti Battery, Pure Lithium, and Sadoway Labs.

Donald Sadoway in the news

TED Talk
His TED talk, viewed over 2.5 million times, is as much about inventing inventors as it is about inventing technology.

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TIME 100
In 2012 he was named by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.

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Nature paper
Published in 2022, the paper titled Fast-charging aluminium–chalcogen batteries resistant to dendritic shorting led to the development of the Avanti battery.

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Lectures on OpenCourseware
Donald Sadoway's impact on engineering education has extended well beyond the lecture hall. Online videos of his lectures in general chemistry hosted by MIT OpenCourseWare, have been viewed thousands of times from around the globe. Bill Gates has been quoted "Don Sadoway, MIT--best chemistry lectures everywhere. Unbelievable."

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The Colbert Report
In 2012 he joined Stephen Colbert on the Colbert Report for a hilarious discussion about the Liquid Metal Battery. "It looks like a grilled cheese sandwich."

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European Inventor of the Year Award 2022
Donald Sadoway was named winner of the European Inventor Award 2022 in the Non-EPO countries category for the Liquid Metal Battery. The European Inventor Award pays tribute to inventors who transform their ideas into solutions that address some of the greatest challenges of our time.

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Rhonda Irby

Chief Commercial Officer

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Rhonda Irby is growth-focused and responsible for shaping the company’s commercial strategy and market expansion. As Chief Commercial Officer, she drives the transition of breakthrough technologies from the lab to scalable, real-world solutions, forging strategic partnerships that align with national priorities.With extensive leadership experience across government, defense, and industrial sectors, Rhonda specializes in building ecosystems that accelerate commercialization and strengthen critical supply chains. Her track record in strategy, business development, and market positioning ensures Sadoway’s innovations reach the partners and platforms where they create the greatest impact.

Michael Murphy

Chief Operating Officer


Michael Murphy is an international business development leader with a track record of taking complex projects from concept to commercial operation. He specializes in renewable energyprojects and manufacturing facilities, guiding cross-border deals through site selection, permitting, financing, EPC negotiation, and long-term off take or customer agreements. Michael blends technical fluency with commercial rigor—structuring bankable projects, building consortiums, and aligning public and private stakeholders to deliver on cost, schedule, and performance. His work spans greenfield and brownfield developments, from utility-scale renewable assets to advanced manufacturing lines, with a consistent focus on de-risking execution and securing sustainable unit economics. Known for clear negotiation, disciplined diligence, and hands-on delivery, Michael helps organizations enter new markets, scale pipelines, and convert strategy into operating assets that create lasting value.

Don Rifkin, CPA

Chief Financial Officer

Donald Rifkin is a Certified Public Accountant with over 25 years of experience. Prior to his private practice he spent seven years on Wall Street after completing his MBA at the Tepper School of Management at Carnegie Mellon University.

Rebecca Miller

Marketing and communications


Rebecca Miller has worked with academic institutions, corporations, organizations and creative agencies to drive positive change through persuasive communications. Her work is effective through goals to change perception, drive interest, raise money, and deliver better numbers.

‍Rebecca has generated ooohs and aaahs with her video programs, broadcast work, interactive communications and graphic design. She is known for her unusual creative solutions, aggressive editing, bold graphics, and surprising music scores. She recently completed an independent documentary about the famous filmmaker Robert Flaherty. Her portfolio includes a civil rights documentary, theater programs for General Electric, multi-screen installations for the World Business Forum, music videos for Bose, and a series of customer profiles recorded in Europe for MathWorks.  She has produced many programs for schools and colleges, most notably for Harvard University, Harvard Business School and Northeastern University. She has been on staff with Smash Advertising, working with major broadcast and cable clients. While working in Los Angeles, she produced the PBS series Talking with David Frost, working with Luchiano Pavarotti, Jacques Cousteau,and Benazir Bhutto. She started her career working for local network broadcast stations and production groups.