Chemicals group SABIC has taken a majority stake in nanotechnology company Black Diamond Structures (BDS).
BDS produces Molecular Rebar, “a proprietary technology of modified carbon nanotubes” reported to boost the performance of both lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries.
Molecular Rebar delivers “clean and discrete carbon nanotubes of uniform aspect ratio”, reducing their tendency— in comparison to conventional carbon nanotubes— to get entangled, cake, and hold high residual impurities, BDS said.
John Hacskaylo, CEO of BDS, said their nanomaterial can be ‘directly incorporated in existing production processes of batteries’, meaning that its use could be fast tracked without requiring large additional investment from manufacturers.
Under testing, BDS said their carbon nanotubes “significantly improve the cycle life of a lead-acid battery”, and “enhance the performance of lithium-ion batteries to meet increased power capacity demands”.
BDS was founded in 2014 as a joint venture between SABIC Ventures and Molecular Rebar Redesign. The company holds the exclusive rights for the use of Molecular Rebar in the energy storage market.
