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A $3 million investment from NewTech Power Inc., a University of ��ݮ��Ƶ startup company, will allow to excel research and commercialization of his silicon-based lithium-ion technology – the battery of the future.

Promising 40 to 60 per cent more power than current graphite-based lithium-ion batteries, Chen’s silicon technology could soon be available to meet surging battery-power demands, especially for portable electronics, electric vehicles, and electricity grid storage systems.

 “As we rely more and more on battery power – for everything from our phones to our vehicles – their capacity and storage becomes more and more critical,” says Chen, from the Department of Chemical Engineering. “Our silicon lithium-ion technology is substantially more powerful than current batteries, making devices last longer and more reliable for consumers.”  Making smartphones last 1.5 times longer on a single charge is just one example application that will have immediate consumer appeal.

NewTech Power Inc. was created to commercialize Chen’s battery and bring it to market – hopefully in two to three years. The substantial three-year investment will allow Chen and his team to speed up research, development, and commercialization. The funding will also be used to expand Chen’s research team by hiring and training professionals within Canada to work on the project.

Chen and his team have been supported by Saeed Bagheri, technology transfer manager, of the ��ݮ��Ƶ Commercialization Office (WatCo) since the project began in 2013. In addition, the Office of Research’s Research Partnerships team assisted in negotiating this research agreement. 

“WatCo has helped us meet critical goals including securing essential patents, solidifying partnerships, and acquiring this pivotal investment that will advance the project to commercialization,” says Chen. “WatCo is a great resource for the University community and has definitely helped accelerate the innovation process for this project.”