Natrion

Natrion is a battery research, development and materials company founded in 2018 out of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Indiana University by Alex Kosyakov and Thomas Rouffiac. Its core technology is the patented Lithium Solid Ionic Composite (LISIC), a polymer-ceramic hybrid solid electrolyte intended to replace the flammable liquid electrolyte components used in conventional lithium batteries. The company develops solid-state lithium-ion and sodium-ion battery components for electric mobility and defense applications.

Natrion's commercial product line centers on the Active Separator, a LISIC-based separator manufactured in the United States that the company states is directly swappable with legacy separators on gigascale Li-ion cell production lines. Adjacent products include the X-12 Li-metal anode, the M3 non-carbonate anolyte/wetting agent, liquid-free LISIC laminate catholyte, and coatings for high-nickel NMC cathodes; the components are described as compatible with a range of anode and cathode chemistries. Natrion positions the Active Separator both as an improvement to cells already produced in gigafactories and as an enabling component for next-generation Li-metal and solid-state chemistries.

The company operates R&D and production sites in Binghamton, New York, Champaign, Illinois, and Buffalo, New York, and describes partnerships with US manufacturers and the US Department of Defense.

Founding story

Natrion was founded in 2018 by Alex Kosyakov and Thomas Rouffiac, starting out of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Indiana University. Rather than designing a new battery from scratch, the founders focused on innovating at the cell-component level so new materials could be adopted using existing manufacturing equipment, consulting with original equipment manufacturers from the outset.

Business model

Natrion supplies battery cell components — separators, electrolytes, anode and cathode materials — to battery manufacturers and OEMs rather than producing complete battery packs, designing its materials as one-to-one drop-in replacements that require no new machinery or process changes at customer plants. It has also funded development through US government research contracts and awards, including Department of Defense, US Navy STTR, US Air Force Phase I and Phase II contracts, and an NSF award.

Traction

Natrion reports multiple US Department of Defense contracts, a $200,000 US Navy STTR contract, US Air Force Phase I and Phase II contracts, an NSF award and voucher-program selection, a 2024 Edison Award Gold win with a 430+ Wh/kg milestone, finalist status in the LG Energy Solution Battery Challenge 2022, a strategic collaboration MOU with Soelect, a new Western New York production facility, and partnerships with US manufacturers. At the time of its 2022 seed round, its investor stated the company had secured commercial traction in the automotive space, and the company planned to build in-house pouch cell prototyping at its Champaign and Binghamton sites with a possible pilot production line as early as 2023.

Latest developments

Company news items list the launch of new battery product lines for uncrewed systems, a strategic collaboration MOU signed with Soelect, the opening of a new production facility in Western New York, new board appointments to support scaling of its US-made battery separator, and the launch of what it describes as the first active battery separator made in the US.