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Northwestern Startup: Volexion, Inc.
Founded: 2018
Northwestern Inventor:
Mark Hersam
McCormick School of Engineering & Applied Sciences
Materials Science
Faculty Profile
Volexion is developing advanced cathode materials for lithium ion batteries that overcome key limitations to conventional technology, primarily enhanced battery performance at low temperatures and rapid charging...
Published: 5/5/2026
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Updated: 5/5/2026
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): Batteries, Energy and Infrastructure, Energy storage, Graphene, Lithium-ion, Materials, Startup with Northwestern IP
Category(s): Physical Sciences > Energy & Sustainability, Physical Sciences > Materials and Industrial Processes
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Northwestern Startup: NanoGraf
Founded: 2012Northwestern Inventor: Harold KungMcCormick School of Engineering and Applied ScienceDepartment of Chemical and Biological EngineeringJiaxing Huang McCormick School of Engineering and Applied ScienceDepartment of Materials ScienceFormerly SiNode Systems, NanoGraf pursues advances in Lithium-ion battery anodes to transform a wide range of...
Published: 5/5/2026
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Updated: 5/5/2026
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): Batteries, Energy and Infrastructure, Fuel Cell, Graphene, Nanoparticle, Startup with Northwestern IP, Sustainability, Sustainable Materials
Category(s): Physical Sciences > Energy & Sustainability, Physical Sciences > Materials and Industrial Processes
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Northwestern Startup: Lilac Solutions
Founded: 2016Northwestern Inventor: Christopher WolvertonMcCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Lilac Solutions is developing new ion exchange materials to transform lithium extraction from brine resources.Lilac Solutions Website
Published: 5/5/2026
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Updated: 5/5/2026
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): Batteries, Energy and Infrastructure, Manufacturing/Processing, Materials, Startup with Northwestern IP, Sustainability, Sustainable Materials
Category(s): Physical Sciences > Energy & Sustainability
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Air-Stable Organic Radicals for High-Density Data Storage
NU 2017-121
INVENTORS
James Stoddart* (Nobel laureate; Northwestern University, Weinberg College of Arts & Science, Department of Chemistry)
Zhichang Liu
Junling Sun
SHORT DESCRIPTION
For developers of high-density data storage, this [2]catenane system produces air-stable radicals with multiple accessible redox states, promising improved...
Published: 12/9/2025
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Updated: 11/7/2025
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): Batteries, Data storage, Energy storage, Materials, Semiconductors & Integrated Circuits
Category(s): Physical Sciences > Materials and Industrial Processes, Physical Sciences > Engineering & Technology
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Chiral Redox-Active Isosceles Triangles for Enhanced Organic Lithium-Ion Batteries
NU 2016-043
INVENTORS
J. Fraser Stoddart (Nobel laureate; Northwestern University, Weinberg College of Arts & Science, Department of Chemistry)*
Siva Nalluri
Zhichang Liu
SHORT DESCRIPTION
This technology uses chiral, redox-active isosceles triangles as active materials for organic rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. It offers improved...
Published: 12/9/2025
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Updated: 10/21/2025
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): Batteries, Energy storage, Lithium-ion, Materials
Category(s): Physical Sciences > Materials and Industrial Processes, Physical Sciences > Energy & Sustainability
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Improved electrochemical stability of microscale lithium-ion battery cathode particles with conformal graphene coatings
NU 2021-158
INVENTORS
Mark Hersam*
Kyu-Young Park
SHORT DESCRIPTION
A cobalt-free LiNiO2 cathode material is enhanced with a conformal graphene coating that improves high- voltage stability and extends cycle life. The innovation addresses oxygen loss and associated structural degradation during high state of charge.
BACKGROUND
Cobalt-free...
Published: 11/6/2025
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Updated: 8/18/2025
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): Batteries, Coating, Energy and Infrastructure, Graphene
Category(s): Physical Sciences > Materials and Industrial Processes
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Enabling Ambient Stability of Lithium-Ion Battery Electrode Materials via Graphene-Cellulose Composite Coatings
INVENTORS
Mark Hersam*
Norman Luu
SHORT DESCRIPTION
A novel graphene-ethyl cellulose (GrEC) coating technique that significantly enhances the ambient stability of nickel-rich lithium-ion battery (LIB) cathode materials by preventing the formation of surface impurities.
BACKGROUND
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are crucial for the clean...
Published: 11/6/2025
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Updated: 6/17/2025
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): Batteries, Cleantech, Coating, Energy and Infrastructure, Graphene, Materials, Nanomaterials, Sustainability
Category(s): Physical Sciences > Materials and Industrial Processes
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Exfoliation of Graphene using Biorenewable, Functionalized Cellulose Nanocrystals
NU 2023-183
INVENTORS
Mark Hersam*
Stuart Rowan*
Janan Hui
Haoyang You
SHORT DESCRIPTION
Utilizing biorenewable carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals for the eco-friendly and scalable exfoliation of few-layer graphene nanoplatelets.
BACKGROUND
Graphene's potential in next-generation printed electronics is vast yet hindered...
Published: 4/17/2026
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Updated: 6/17/2025
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): Batteries, Cleantech, Devices, Electronics & Circuits, Graphene, Nanomaterials, Thin film
Category(s): Physical Sciences > Materials and Industrial Processes
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Kaolinite Nanoplatelet Gel Electrolytes
NU 2024-049
INVENTORS
Davy Zeng
Cory Thomas West
Mark C. Hersam*
SHORT DESCRIPTION
A novel method for producing kaolinite nanoplatelets to enhance the safety and efficiency of lithium metal batteries.
BACKGROUND
Traditional liquid electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries are highly flammable. Despite extensive research into less flammable solid-state...
Published: 11/6/2025
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Updated: 4/29/2025
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): Batteries, Cleantech
Category(s): Physical Sciences > Materials and Industrial Processes, Physical Sciences > Energy & Sustainability
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New Proton Conducting Electrolytes
NU 2019-158
INVENTORS
Sossina Haile*
Sheel Suketu Sanghvi
Louis Shen Wang
SHORT DESCRIPTION
This invention introduces Cs3H(H2PO4)4, a novel proton conducting electrolyte that forms a highly conductive cubic phase (≈10⁻³ S cm⁻¹) at intermediate temperatures (100–150 °C) with exceptional stability in dry atmospheres.
BACKGROUND
The...
Published: 11/6/2025
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Updated: 4/23/2025
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): Batteries, Cleantech, Devices, Energy and Infrastructure, Fuel Cell, Hydrogen, Materials, Metals
Category(s): Physical Sciences > Energy & Sustainability
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