Assoc. Prof. Plamen Nikolov Elected Member of the Prestigious International Alpha-Beta Society
Another recognition of the Bulgarian school of lead-acid battery electrochemistry
Assoc. Prof. Plamen Nikolov, Director of the Institute of Electrochemistry and Energy Systems “Acad. Evgeni Budevski” (IEES-BAS), the leading organisation of the Centre of Competence HITMOBIL, and an expert at the Centre, has been elected as the 33rd member of the prestigious international Alpha-Beta Society. The announcement was made on 15 September during this year’s European Lead Battery Conference (ELBC 2026) in Vienna.
Membership of the Alpha-Beta Society, which brings together leading scientists and specialists who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of lead-acid battery science and technology, is highly exclusive, with only one new member admitted each year. Assoc. Prof. Nikolov’s election is not only a major recognition of his personal scientific achievements, but also further confirmation of the importance of the Bulgarian scientific school in this field. Other scientists from IEES-BAS who have previously been admitted to the Society include Academician Detchko Pavlov, Dr Boris Monahov and Dr Geno Papazov.
Assoc. Prof. Nikolov is a student of Academician Detchko Pavlov, one of Bulgaria’s most distinguished scientists in the field of electrochemistry. In 1967, Pavlov laid the foundations of a research field dedicated to lead-acid batteries at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, which over the years developed into an internationally recognised Bulgarian school of lead-acid battery electrochemistry.
Assoc. Prof. Nikolov’s research focuses on both fundamental and applied aspects of electrochemical processes in lead-acid batteries. A significant part of his work is devoted to processes occurring at the negative electrode and to improving battery performance through the use of carbon additives in the electrode’s active mass. His research contributes to a better understanding of the mechanisms affecting charge acceptance, cycle life and the suppression of sulfation.
His scientific interests also include structural changes in the positive active mass and the development of approaches to improve battery durability and reliability. In recent years, he has also been actively involved in research on energy storage systems, including advanced electrolytes for vanadium redox flow batteries designed to support the integration of renewable energy sources.
Speaking to Batteries International, Assoc. Prof. Plamen Nikolov said:
„This is not only a professional recognition, but also a very personal and emotional moment for me. It is a true privilege to join such an exceptional group of colleagues who have contributed so much to the advancement of lead-acid battery science and technology. I feel that every member of the Society has, in some way, been my teacher throughout my scientific journey – through their work, ideas, achievements and lasting contributions to the development of this scientific field. This makes the recognition even more meaningful to me.“
The Alpha-Beta Society was founded in 1989 by David Rand (CSIRO, Australia) and Ernst Voss (Varta, Germany) with the mission of promoting the exchange of ideas and cooperation among distinguished scientists in the field of lead-acid batteries.