A North American battery R&D team, led by a team lead scientist and supported by a laboratory specialist. The team works with several electrolytes, some of which can attack metal. In 2025 it was compiling a list of new lab equipment and added a contact angle instrument to that list.
The team needed contact angle and surface tension for its electrolyte work. Some of its electrolytes can attack metal, so stainless steel needles were not suitable and a polymeric tip was essential. Each electrolyte also had to be handled separately, with the liquid kept in the needle rather than the syringe, so one liquid could not contaminate the next.
A Dropometer with the contact angle, surface tension and surface energy apps and the automatic dropper, fitted with long disposable plastic needles that are changed between liquids. Droplet Lab confirmed before the order that the plastic needles fit both its manual and automatic droppers. The team bought directly from Droplet Lab after an in person demo.
13 Aug 2025: discovery call and quotes. 4 Sep 2025: in person demo. 17 Sep 2025: plastic needle solution proposed. 21 Oct 2025: order placed. November 2025: delivered. 4 Feb 2026: remote onboarding. 8 Jul 2026: the team lead confirmed everything was working well.
The team shortlisted the Dropometer, saw it in person, and approved it once the plastic needle question was solved. It chose the automatic dropper version. After onboarding and follow up support, the team lead confirmed on 8 July 2026 that everything was working well. The team has not shared measurement data, so this page reports the setup, not results.
Battery R&D work with several electrolytes, some of which can attack metal.
Battery components in development; materials and results are confidential.
Laboratory R&D, with the instrument bought in a 2025 round of new lab equipment.
Battery R&D scientists and a laboratory specialist.
Not disclosed. The team's electrolytes and materials are confidential.
Electrolytes that can attack metal; disposable polymeric needles only; each liquid handled separately.
In battery R&D, how an electrolyte wets a surface matters, and some electrolytes are hard on the hardware that delivers the drop.
The team works with several electrolytes, and some of them can attack metal. A standard stainless steel needle was therefore not suitable, because it could corrode and contaminate the drop it delivers. The team asked for disposable polymeric needles instead, and for the automatic dropper to work with them.
Contact angle, surface tension and surface energy on one instrument, an automatic dropper, and a liquid path with no metal in contact with the electrolyte. The team also wanted to see the instrument in person before its finance review, and a quote that covered the needle solution.
Timeline (high level)
Not yet reported. The instrument is configured for sessile drop contact angle, pendant drop surface tension and surface energy, with drops delivered by the automatic dropper through disposable plastic needles.
Not yet reported. Users are the team's battery R&D scientists, trained on a remote onboarding call and a follow up call with Droplet Lab.
The team has not shared measurement data. The Dropometer's contact angle and pendant drop methods are validated against a KRUSS DSA100E in peer review.
This page describes how the setup was configured for electrolytes that can attack metal. It does not report the team's materials, electrolytes or results, which are confidential.
Measured Outcomes
3
Contact angle, surface tension and surface energy apps run on the same Dropometer, so the team does not need a separate instrument for each test.
2 inch
Droplet Lab recommended 2 inch disposable plastic needles so each electrolyte stays in its own needle, and confirmed before the order that they fit both the manual and automatic droppers.
8 Jul 2026
After onboarding and follow up support, the team lead confirmed in writing that everything was working well. The team has not shared measurement results.
Operational Outcomes
Shortlisted during a 2025 equipment round, shown in person on 4 September 2025, and approved on 24 September once the needle question was solved.
The team chose the automatic dropper version. In May 2026 the team lead reported the automatic dropper working well, and in July 2026 the whole setup.
The surface energy app is included, so the team can add surface energy work on the same instrument.
This page does not show the price. The team bought directly from Droplet Lab by purchase order after an in person demo, and asked for a pack of plastic needles to be added to the quote.
Bought directly from Droplet Lab in 2025.
Contact angle, surface tension and surface energy.
Added to the quote at the team's request in September 2025.
Instrument pricing is available on request.
Everything is now working well.Team Lead - Battery materials R&D
