Yasir Arafat

Dr Yasir Arafat is a Senior Research Engineer at Edith Cowan University, where he works on battery diagnostics, safety, recycling and second-life applications of electric vehicle lithium-ion batteries in collaboration with industry. He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Curtin University, where his research focused on advanced battery materials, zinc-air batteries and all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries.

His research interests include lithium-ion battery repurposing, battery recycling, artificial intelligence for battery health prediction, thermal modelling, battery safety, solid-state batteries, metal-air batteries and next-generation energy storage technologies. He is also proficient in resource recovery techniques, including hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy.

Dr Arafat strongly advocates for harnessing local capabilities and critical mineral resources to develop sustainable battery technologies. This is reflected in his leadership in developing metal-air batteries using indigenous zinc resources, highlighting their potential to advance safer, lower-cost and more sustainable battery systems.

Previously, Dr Arafat conducted research on resource recovery, hydrogen production through syngas production, methane decomposition and industrial mineral processing. He has contributed to several applied research and industrial projects, including the development of novel reagents for phosphate flotation.

He has published widely on advanced electrode materials, zinc-air batteries, lithium recovery, electrocatalysis, resource recovery and clean energy systems. Dr Arafat also contributes to public discussion on battery sustainability, electric vehicles, energy storage, recycling infrastructure and the circular economy. His work aims to support safer, more sustainable and more reliable battery technologies for Australia’s clean energy transition.