The science and technology of niobium
The Charles Hatchett Award, sponsored by the Brazilian company CBMM, the premier supplier of niobium products and technology, is a global recognition of excellence in research on the science and technology of niobium. The annual Award, selected by a panel of international experts and ratified by the UK’s Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3), has been a significant part of the global niobium community for over 40 years. Beta was involved in its original concept and development and has managed the award process since its inception in 1979.
Current trends in niobium research
The Award aims to showcase research excellence and help identify new uses and markets for niobium. Historically, winning papers have primarily focused on the role of niobium in steels, including lightweighting and high-temperature applications. However, in the last seven years, the winning research has shifted to reflect the growing interest in niobium’s role in supporting the energy transition and green technologies. Dominant in the field of new applications is energy storage, and foremost among the researchers exploring the role of niobium has been Nobel laureate Prof. Stanley Whittingham. A summary of the recent winners is as follows:
- Batteries/energy storage (2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025).
- Catalysts (hydrogen generation) (2020).
- Piezoelectric (2021).
The 2025 Charles Hatchett Award was won by Soyeong Yun, Junwoo Yu, Wontae Lee, Hayeon Lee and Won-Sub Yoon for their paper: “Achieving structural stability and enhanced electrochemical performance through Nb-doping into Li- and Mn-rich layered cathode for lithium-ion batteries”, Royal Society of Chemistry: Materials Horizons volume 10, Number 3, March 2023 pages 659-1044.
Beta will coordinate the organisation of a technical conference on niobium based batteries in December 2025 on behalf of the award sponsor, CBMM. At this conference, the winning authors will be invited to present their winning research paper.
