Oxford, United Kingdom, January 25, 2023 – Chemistry technology company OXECO has partnered with research organisation WMG to investigate the use of its ONTO^TM technology for lithium-ion batteries.

OXECO, a spin-out of the University of Oxford, has partnered with WMG (Warwick Manufacturing Group) at the University of Warwick, for a 15-month collaboration on lithium-ion battery technology. The partnership aims to advance the lithium-ion battery industry by leveraging WMG’s research on battery cell development and optimisation, alongside OXECO’s unique technology platform.

The research program aims to enhance the performance, longevity, and ease of manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries by focusing on the preparation of active materials and coating foils used to create electrodes.

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The program is expected to yield transformative results in the improvement of current lithium-ion batteries and be a significant step towards the development of more efficient, reliable, and sustainable energy storage solutions.

This partnership will further OXECO’s aim to leverage innovative surface chemistry to accelerate our net-zero future. Jon-Paul Griffiths, founder and Chief Technology Officer at OXECO, commented that “This is a remarkable opportunity to help steer the progress of battery technology – a crucial industry for the realization of a sustainable energy economy. WMG have exceptional proficiency and credibility in battery research, coupled with the ability to manufacture from bench to pilot scale.

“This marks the initial phase of our efforts towards the integration of ONTO™ chemistry into lithium-ion batteries, and we are also delving into other domains of our chemistry for diverse applications in batteries, such as separator membranes. Our team is dedicated to forging a path towards cutting-edge technological advancements that will shape the future of energy storage solutions.”

WMG has an international reputation for working successfully with industry, with a history of partnering with pioneering entities, including Lotus, Aston Martin, JLR, BAE Systems, IBM, and Plug and Play, as well as the latest technology innovators.

Mark Copley, Chief Engineer in WMG at the University of Warwick’s Electrochemical Materials and Manufacturing team, concluded: “We are excited to be partnering with OXECO. This collaboration will draw on the university’s extensive expertise in battery technologies and OXECO’s chemistry to improve battery performance and longevity and help the global transition to sustainable power solutions through innovative research and training.”

About OXECO

OXECO is a chemistry technology company that designs, develops, and manufactures coatings and materials for the transport and clean technology sectors. The company’s core innovative technology controls the way that surfaces behave using cutting-edge carbene chemistry. This technology was born in the University of Oxford’s Department of Chemistry and developed over more than two decades.

www.oxeco.co.uk

About WMG, University of Warwick

WMG is a world leading research and education group, with over 20 different research teams, transforming organisations and driving innovation through a unique combination of collaborative research and development, and pioneering education programmes. WMG is also a High Value Manufacturing Catapult, and leads on Net Zero Mobility.

As an international role model for successful partnerships between academia and the private and public sectors, WMG develops advancements nationally and globally, in applied science, technology and engineering, to deliver real impact to economic growth, society and the environment. 

WMG has a unique depth and breadth of facilities across the Energy R&D spectrum, and with more than a decade of experience in cutting edge electrification and battery R&D, is one of the leading UK organisations in this field.  WMG’s state-of-the-art £90m Energy Innovation Centre provides a highly specialised platform with extensive capabilities and facilities which extend right across the battery lifecycle from raw materials to end of life.   A unique UK facility capable of producing full-size prototype battery cells in sufficient quantities for industrial testing, WMG is also a founding member of the Faraday Institution, and the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre.  

https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/