Chemours opens battery innovation lab on STAR Campus

The future of electric vehicle batteries just might be developed here in Newark.

Last week, Chemours unveiled its new Chemours Battery Innovation Center, housed in a small lab inside the company’s research and development headquarters on the University of Delaware STAR Campus.

Chemours, which was spun off from DuPont in 2015, has developed a way to use Teflon fluoropolymer binders in the manufacturing of lithium-ion battery electrodes. It’s meant to replace the current practice of combining chemicals into a wet slurry.

Chemours’ process uses less energy, reduces the amount of space needed for manufacturing and is safer for workers, according to Stefanie Kopchick, general manager of the company’s clean energy venture.

“You no longer need all of these lengthy dryers to evaporate off all of these toxic solvents,” Kopchick said. “You can shrink your footprint, and that reduces the cost to manufacture the battery.”

Chemours developed the technology five years ago, but it took time to scale it up and build the lab, she added. The company is already working with battery manufacturers.

“We are simulating the battery production in our lab. We’re not a battery manufacturer, so we create the materials that the battery manufacturers can use,” Kopchick said. “We’re delivering that material, and then we’re also partnering with them on the know-how about how to scale up the process. This innovation center that we have here is enabling us to troubleshoot things with them and help them overcome scale-up challenges.”

Gerardo Familiar, president of Chemours’ advanced performance materials division, said the ultimate goal is to reduce the cost of electric vehicles and improve their performance.

“Innovation is required so we can help the ramp-up of technologies like electrical vehicles to be successful,” Familiar said.

Sen. Chris Coons said the battery lab will contribute to the transition toward electric vehicles.

“Delaware is on the cutting-edge of technology worldwide thanks in large part to investments like this, where Chemours has turned to the workforce around Newark to launch their state-of-the-art laboratory facility,” Coons said. “I’m all charged up to see Delaware lead the way in battery innovations that will bring about a cleaner future.”

The Chemours Discovery Hub opened in 2020 on a 15-acre site that the company leases from UD. The 312,000-square-foot facility, employs approximately 300 people and contains 130 labs and 50 collaborative spaces such as meeting rooms.

Kopchick said being located on the STAR Campus allows the company to collaborate with UD researchers and graduate students.

“That’s how you can magnify the incredible innovation that’s happening here,” she said.