Natrion has been selected for the New Energy New York (NENY) Technical Assistance Voucher Program, led by Binghamton University in partnership with the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium (NY-BEST). The program aims to advance new battery technologies and expand the energy storage innovation ecosystem in upstate New York. Through this initiative, Natrion will receive support to assemble, test, and certify advanced lithium battery cells utilizing its proprietary electrolyte technology, LISIC.
Following the successful launch of its production line earlier this year in upstate New York—developed in partnership with FuzeHub and Binghamton University’s Center for Advanced Microelectronics Manufacturing (CAMM)—Natrion will now fabricate pouch cells representative of those used in automotive and consumer electronics. These cells will be certified to UN38.3 standards, a significant technical milestone that verifies a battery technology’s commercial maturity and readiness.
Collaborators from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Binghamton University, and Intertek will assist Natrion in building high-capacity cells containing LISIC for rigorous testing. Some of these cells will feature advanced lithium-metal anodes enabled by LISIC, offering 50% more energy density compared to current state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries with graphite anodes. The project is scheduled to begin in January 2025 and is expected to last approximately six months.
“There are few examples of commercial lithium-metal cells that can actually meet UN38.3 safety standards—we will be showing how LISIC can change that,” said John Fox, Chief Operating Officer of Natrion. “We are honored to have NENY’s support to assist us in carrying out this testing with leading institutions here in upstate New York.”
Additionally, Natrion has been selected as one of nine companies to receive Use-Inspired Research and Development funding from the National Science Foundation’s Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine. Led by 2019 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Dr. M. Stanley Whittingham, the initiative seeks to establish an industry-driven hub for new battery components and manufacturing, aiming to bolster America’s competitiveness in the global battery market.
The grant will support a 12-month project to automate and scale critical quality control processes at Natrion’s production line with CAMM. LISIC produced from this line will be fabricated into 18650-type cylindrical cells in partnership with RIT. Natrion aims to demonstrate how these cells can deliver enhanced capabilities and reduced manufacturing costs compared to overseas battery offerings.
“These cylindrical cells are used in everything from electronics to electric cars to stationary energy storage devices—they are the most cost-efficient type of battery to make,” said Dr. Duke Shih, Chief Technology Officer of Natrion. “The flexibility and mechanical strength of LISIC give us a unique opportunity to integrate the material into these cells and provide domestic battery makers with a leading cost advantage on a dollars-per-kilowatt-hour basis.”
Source: Natrion News
