One of the major challenges in the energy transition is the rapidly growing demand for batteries for energy storage. Although nowadays batteries are very fast and efficient, they depend on complex raw materials with high supply risks that need to be sourced from outside the EU. This creates uncertainty around the costs, availability, and scalability of lithium-ion batteries.

This is why BOR-LYTE, a UvA Faculty of Science startup, supports the development of battery systems that are not only high-performing, but also resource-conscious and scalable. CEO and co-founder Florenz Buß: ‘We are especially interested in battery systems that can become more resilient to supply chain disruptions and industrial bottlenecks. We believe this will become increasingly important for the energy transition.’ 

Next-generation batteries

A promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries is the sodium-ion battery. Unlike lithium, sodium is abundant. Sodium-ion batteries make it possible to establish a European based supply chain. However, these alternative battery systems have entirely new material challenges.

The different sodium-ion chemistries require highly specialized electrolyte formulations, conductive salts and additive systems. Therefore, BOR-LYTE develops and supplies a broad range of borate-based electrolytes for the large-scale production of sodium-ion batteries. The materials they offer are safe and efficient, as well as environmentally friendly and resilient to supply chain risks.

Starting in research

The initial scientific origins of BOR-LYTE lie in synthetic chemistry and battery materials research at the UvA Faculty of Science. During their research in borate chemistry and conductive salts, the founders identified promising material pathways and scalable synthesis concepts. With their promising scientific findings, they decided to found a startup company.

However, a lot more was needed to actually build the company. Buß: ‘A material can work extremely well in the laboratory, but industrial adoption also depends on manufacturing, sourcing, process simplicity and integration into industrial supply chains.’ Today, BOR-LYTE is increasingly positioning itself not around a single invention, but as a broader borate materials platform for emerging battery systems.

Building the business

The startup company is in operation for a little over a year. In the coming years, BOR-LYTE will focus on further validating their materials with industrial partners to create a strong and broad Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio. In the future, they would also like to have their own lab.

For Buß, entrepreneurship turned out to be very different from academic research, but also very rewarding: ‘Every day is different. One day you work on process development, the next on partnerships, funding or conferences. I would encourage more researchers to start an entrepeneurial journey. I love to do this job.’