Our Team

Andre Zeitoun is the Founder and CEO of Ionic Mineral Technologies, a U.S.-based innovation leader in advanced, next generation battery materials. Andre is highly regarded for his leadership in the commercialization of halloysite clay nanotubes. Andre has dedicated over a decade of his career to this unique mineral and established himself as a pioneer in the commercialization of Halloysite for specialty applications. A seasoned leader formerly working on Wall St. and as an executive of a public company, Andre is well positioned to grow his company and accelerate the path to an electrified future.

Dr. Sunho Kang is the Chief Technology Officer at Ionic Mineral Technologies and a seasoned leader in lithium-ion battery innovation, with over 25 years of experience in R&D and the industrialization of battery materials and cells. His career spans top-tier research institutions, cell manufacturers, and OEMs, including Argonne National Laboratory, Samsung SDI, Apple, and Volkswagen. Dr. Kang’s work in developing advanced NCM cathode materials, silicon-carbon nanocomposites, and nanoporous silicon has led to their widespread commercial adoption in lithium-ion cells for electric vehicles and power tools. A former protégé of Nobel Laureate Dr. John B. Goodenough, a pioneer in lithium-ion technology, Dr. Kang holds more than 80 scientific publications and over 30 U.S. patents in battery materials. He earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Seoul National University. 

Dr. Rajan Patel joins Ionic Mineral Technologies as Head of Battery Materials, bringing deep expertise in process and product development for silicon anodes in lithium-ion batteries. At Group14 Technologies, he spearheaded the scale-up of Si-based anodes, innovating process techniques and driving commercialization as well as the development of manufacturing IP strategies. Previously, at PNNL, he advanced Si-C anode material, electrolyte formulations for a Fortune 500 company, and addressed challenges of Li-S and Redox Flow battery technologies. Dr. Patel’s extensive list of publications and co-authored 18 issued or pending patents underscore his deep understanding and innovative approach in the field. Leveraging his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and extensive industry experience, Dr. Patel will play a key role in driving the development and market success of Ionic MT’s Ionisil nano-silicon technology.

Dr. Ismail Yildirim brings over 25 years of expertise in industrial mineral processing and large-scale production to Ionic Mineral Technologies. With a proven track record of optimizing complex mineral refining processes and scaling advanced materials to commercial success, he plays a pivotal role in advancing the production of Ionisil™ nano-silicon and high-purity alumina co-products.

Before joining Ionic MT, Dr. Yildirim held leadership roles at KaMin LLC, BASF, Imerys, and Virginia Tech, where he managed multi-million-dollar R&D and production initiatives across a range of industries, including battery materials, paints, ceramics, and water treatment applications.

At KaMin LLC, he led R&D and applications teams, optimizing kaolin processes across multiple sites—achieving over $5 million per year in cost savingsthrough operational efficiencies. During his tenure at BASF Corporation, he spearheaded calciner productivity improvements that delivered significant cost reductions and developed novel alumina silicate adsorbent materials for industrial applications. At Imerys, he drove process optimization projects in kaolin and bauxite, enhancing yields, energy efficiency, and product performance while leading product development initiatives that generatedmillions in revenue.

Dr. Yildirim holds a Ph.D. in Mining and Minerals Engineering from Virginia Tech and is the holder of multiple patents in mineral beneficiation, calcination, and kaolin-based product innovations.

At Ionic MT, Dr. Yildirim leads the production scale-up of Ionisil™ nano-silicon and high-purity alumina, streamlining efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and new revenue opportunities in the critical materials supply chain.

Dr. Wenwei Zheng is the Head of Research at Ionic Mineral Technologies (IonicMT), leading the company’s research and development of halloysite-derivative battery materials, with a particular focus on innovative silicon anode solutions. Joining IonicMT in February 2025, Dr. Zheng drives the strategic development of advanced battery materials, spearheading the Battery Material Research team and collaborating across departments to accelerate the commercialization of IonicMT’s Ionisil™ technology. His leadership is pivotal to IonicMT’s mission to redefine lithium-ion battery performance, range, and charging speed. Dr. Zheng brings over 20 years of R&D experience in material science, including over eight years focused on battery material science and R&D leadership, with a strong track record of success in developing and commercializing silicon-based battery technologies. Prior to IonicMT, he played a critical role at GP Batteries, where he led the commercialization of two generations of silicon anode technologies and the prototyping of a third, significantly increasing energy density in commercial button cells. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Stanford University, and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Physics and Chemistry from Peking University.

Preston Colledge is the Director of Mining Operations at Ionic Mineral Technologies. Preston holds an extensive background in excavation, geology, and scaling-up mining operations. Previously, Preston was a Researcher at Utah Valley State University where he developed various research proposals including one for using magnetic anomalies in Earth’s total magnetic field to locate placer gold deposits. Preston received his Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and Earth Science from Utah Valley University.

Dr. Mohammad Abdul Aziz is the Battery Materials Scientist at Ionic Mineral Technologies, specializing in the development of next-generation lithium-ion battery materials. With a Ph.D. in Energy Science and Engineering from DGIST, South Korea, and postdoctoral research experience at Cornell University, USA, he is a leader in advancing silicon-based anode materials, NMC-based cathodes, and polymer-ceramic hybrid separators. His work focuses on optimizing battery performance, safety, and sustainability through innovative material engineering, collaborating with industry leaders such as Cornell-JMC KISCO and Samsung SDIRA. With extensive expertise in electrochemical testing, materials science, and project management, Dr. Mohammad Abdul Aziz is at the forefront of scaling high-performance lithium battery technologies for electric vehicles and portable devices.

Andrea Thompson is a Battery Materials Engineer at Ionic Mineral Technologies, specializing in lithium-ion cathode materials, electrode processing, and electrochemical characterization. She brings extensive hands-on experience in cell assembly, materials testing, and data analytics, having previously worked at Tesla as an Engineering Technician in cathode material development.

Andrea holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Brigham Young University and an M.S. in Data Analytics from Western Governor’s University. Her expertise spans powder characterization (XRD, SEM, BET, PSD), electrode fabrication, electrolyte formulation, and battery cycling analysis. She has also contributed to battery research, presenting findings on ionic and electronic conductivities in Li-ion cells at The Electrochemical Society.

With her strong technical foundation, problem-solving skills, and passion for battery innovation, Andrea plays a key role in advancing nano-silicon anode technology at IonicMT.

Betty Lankry brings extensive international experience in events, marketing, media, and business development to Ionic Mineral Technologies. For decades, Betty has led events and supported media productions across Europe, North America (primarily NYC, Miami and LA), as well as South America. Betty co-founded Prisma Artists, a global booking agency, and has worked for brands including MTV, Royal Elastics, Prospect Park production company. Betty studied the Business of Entertainment at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).

Shane is a head excavator for Ionic Mineral Technologies. Previously with Goldstar Excavation, Shane brings over five years of experience in surface mining and extensive knowledge of the local terrain at Ionic Mineral Technologies’ site in Utah. He performs a hands-on role for the company, ensuring quality work and environmental responsibility throughout the excavation, mineral transit, and final processing steps of transforming halloysite to nano-silicon.