Pankaj Ghildiyal is the co-founder and CTO of 4th State Energies, which develops plasma-created silicon to power next-generation lithium-ion batteries. Originally from the Indian Himalayas, he earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Maryland, focusing on gas-phase synthesis of nanostructured materials for energy applications. He now applies this expertise to advance high-performance, scalable battery materials. His work has been featured in Wired and The Wall Street Journal and supported by federal innovation grants.
4th State Energies (fka SiLi-ion Inc.) produces advanced silicon powders using a low-energy plasma process to fully replace graphite in lithium-ion batteries. The materials are chemistry- and format-agnostic, drop-in compatible, and third-party validated, enabling U.S.-based production of high-energy, low-cost anodes for electric vehicles, drones, and next-generation portable devices.