Solid Electrolyte for Longer Lasting, Cheaper and Safer Batteries

Ionic Materials today announced its strategic initiatives in the Japanese market. Ionic Materials is currently exploring partnerships with consumer device, electric vehicle and battery manufacturers in Japan to bring its battery material to market. By eliminating the toxic and flammable liquid electrolyte in current lithium-ion batteries, the company's battery material is inherently safe and enables nonflammable batteries that will safely power the future.

Today’s power requirements need safer, longer lasting and less expensive batteries. Batteries made with Ionic Materials’ solid polymer electrolyte can be folded, cut and damaged without burning and they continue to perform. The removal of the liquid also results in a more recyclable battery. In addition, Ionic Materials offers the most cost-effective solution because of its efficient, high-volume polymer processing techniques that simplify cell manufacturing and enables overall lower cost pack configurations.

Ionic Materials’ polymer is an industry first in that, unlike other polymers available today, it is the only one that can function at room temperature, ensuring a practical solution for many applications. Its polymer allows for double the life of today’s lithium-ion batteries, because, unlike liquid electrolytes, its material is compatible with many next-generation anodes and cathodes.

“The Japanese market is recognized as a leader in electric vehicles, consumer devices and batteries, but these industries are still burdened with using outdated lithium-ion technology and chemistries that don’t offer the necessary energy capacity, safety or cost-effectiveness that’s needed for today’s products,” said Mike Zimmerman, CEO of Ionic Materials. “We are now looking for the right strategic partners to scale and speed the production of our battery material and bring it to the Japanese market.”

The global lithium-ion battery market size will surpass $53 billion by 2024, and renewable and grid storage applications will surpass $12 billion by 2024, according to Global Market Insights. This showcases the need for a safer, more cost-effective and higher energy density solution to meet market demand. Specifically in Japan, the lithium-ion battery market size is predicted to exceed $2 billion by 2024, and the region experienced over 150 percent growth in production in 2016, as compared to manufacturing volume in 2015.

The company’s polymer platform technology enables a wide range of battery chemistries including lithium metal anodes, high voltage intercalation cathodes, sulfur conversion cathodes and a proprietary system that will revolutionize battery manufacturing. Ionic Materials’ battery material can be incorporated into existing cell manufacturing processes, and the company is now actively discussing potential partnerships with leading multi-national materials companies, battery manufacturers and device OEMs (EV and consumer electronics manufacturers) across the globe, including within Japan.