What Ampcera does

Ampcera Inc., founded in 2017 by Sumin Zhu (CEO) and Hui Du (CTO), is a U.S. solid-state battery materials company headquartered in San Jose, California with R&D and manufacturing operations in Tucson, Arizona. The company develops and produces sulfide-based solid electrolyte materials — primarily argyrodite-type Li5.5PS4.5Cl1.5 and Li6PS5Cl compositions — supplied in nano, ultra-fine, fine, and coarse particle grades alongside LiNbO3- and Li2ZrO3-coated cathode powders (NMC811, Ni82, Ni90, NMC631, and LCO variants). A proprietary 5-stage manufacturing process and a 20-ton-per-annum Tucson pilot facility underpin its materials production. Amcera additionally sells supporting battery R&D equipment (isostatic pouch cell testing vessels, mobile modular dry rooms) and offers sulfide electrolyte film processing, dry-processed electrode fabrication, and cold isostatic pressing as services.

Ampcera's commercial offering targets automotive OEMs, battery cell manufacturers, consumer electronics firms, and government/defense buyers, with disclosed technology benchmarks including >12 mS/cm room-temperature ionic conductivity, 400+ Wh/kg prototype cell energy density, 6,000-cycle stability (via PNNL), and an 80% state-of-charge fast-charging milestone in under 15 minutes. The company serves more than 200 customers globally across the U.S., Europe, and Asia through both a Shopify-powered e-commerce storefront for standard materials and direct enterprise sales for joint development agreements, technology licensing, and bulk supply contracts.

The business combines three revenue streams: hardware sales of sulfide electrolytes, coated cathodes, testing equipment, and modular dry rooms; licensing of proprietary ASSB technology and joint development with OEMs; and processing services (sulfide electrolyte films, dry electrodes, cold isostatic pressing). Ampcera is venture-backed, having closed a $15M Series A led by Hanwha Solutions Corporation in December 2022 (9.7% stake) and accumulated over $4.6M in U.S. Department of Energy and ARPA-E grants. Its stated roadmap is to build a solid-state battery pilot line in 2026 and supply consumer electronics batteries and B/C-sample cells to OEMs from 2027, while scaling electrolyte production toward sub-$50/kg material costs.

Name

Ampcera

Legal name

Ampcera Inc.

Website

https://ampcera.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ampcera develops and manufactures sulfide-based solid electrolytes, coated cathode materials, and battery R&D equipment for all-solid-state batteries. It sells globally to over 200 automotive OEMs, battery manufacturers, consumer electronics firms, and government buyers via e-commerce and direct enterprise channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solid-State Battery Materials

NAICS

Battery Manufacturing (33591)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Electrolytes & Additives Manufacturing (Liquid, Gel, Solid-State) (EUAFABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solid-State Battery Materials & Cell Manufacturing (EUAFABAH), Cathode Active Materials (CAM) Manufacturing (EUAFABAB), Battery Cells (Li-ion, LFP, Sodium-ion, Lead-acid, NiMH) (IMAGAHAA), Battery & Energy Storage High-Purity Chemicals (Electrolyte salts/solvents, additives) (IMAEAKAM)

Keywords

• Solid-state batteries
• Sulfide electrolytes
• Battery materials
• Cathode powders
• Battery components

Headquarters

HQ city

Milpitas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Solid Electrolyte Materials Sales: Sale of sulfide-based solid electrolyte powders, coated cathode materials, and battery testing equipment through e-commerce storefront. Products include nano, ultra-fine, fine, and coarse sulfide electrolytes; LiNbO3 and Li2ZrO3 coated cathodes; isostatic pouch cell testing vessels; and modular dry rooms. Revenue is one-time transaction-based for materials and equipment.
2. Battery Technology Licensing: Licensing of proprietary solid-state battery technology including sulfide electrolyte formulations, manufacturing processes, and ASSB cell designs. Joint development agreements with automotive OEMs and battery manufacturers for technology integration.
3. Processing Services: End-to-end sulfide electrolyte film processing, dry-processed electrode fabrication, and cold isostatic press services for customer material and cell development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ampcera develops, manufactures, and sells sulfide-based solid electrolyte materials (argyrodite-type Li5.5PS4.5Cl1.5 and Li6PS5Cl) and surface-coated cathode active powders used as core components in all-solid-state lithium batteries. The company also provides related battery R&D equipment (isostatic pouch cell testing vessels, modular dry rooms) and processing services (sulfide electrolyte film processing, dry electrode fabrication, cold isostatic pressing), targeting automotive OEMs, battery cell manufacturers, and consumer electronics companies.

Product overview

Ampcera is a U.S.-based innovator in solid-state battery technology offering a portfolio of core products and supporting services. The product line centers on sulfide solid electrolyte materials (Li5.5PS4.5Cl1.5 and Li6PS5Cl in nano, ultra-fine, fine, and coarse grades) that replace flammable liquid electrolytes in conventional lithium-ion batteries. Complementing the electrolytes are surface-engineered cathode active materials (LiNbO3 and Li2ZrO3 coated NMC811, Ni82, Ni90, NMC631, and LCO variants) designed specifically for sulfide-based solid-state batteries. The company also provides processing services including sulfide electrolyte film processing, dry electrode fabrication, and cold isostatic pressing. Equipment offerings include the Isostatic Pouch Cell Testing Vessel and Modular Dry Room for battery R&D and pilot development. The products work together as an integrated system for solid-state battery development and manufacturing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Li5.5PS4.5Cl1.5 Sulfide Solid Electrolyte Powders

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% charge in under 15 minutes at 4C peak C-rate (surpassing U.S. DOE benchmark)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 May 2025Partnership to commercialize all-solid-state battery technology developed at PNNL. Technology demonstrates stability over 6,000 cycles in prototype lithium batteries. Focus on improving performance and reducing manufacturing costs.
• Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOE-funded collaboration for 3D printing of advanced lithium batteries. Project developing low-cost, high-throughput manufacturing process for solid-state battery materials.
• General Motors (GM) and FordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating through U.S. DOE-sponsored programs to develop solid-state batteries addressing EV adoption barriers including range anxiety, cost, and battery performance under extreme climate conditions.
• RAVVminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as strategic partner/investor supporting Ampcera's ecosystem development.
• Plug and PlayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology accelerator partner participating in Plug and Play Silicon Valley Summit and Plug and Play Sustainability AZ Summit.
• Arizona Commerce AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState economic development partner supporting Arizona-based technology companies and clean energy ecosystem.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Solid Power: Solid Power develops sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries and is the most direct competitor to Ampcera, with a comparable focus on sulfide electrolytes, automotive OEM partnerships (BMW, Ford, SK On), and a public listing that has created significant capital to scale.
• QuantumScape: QuantumScape is developing lithium-metal solid-state batteries with VW as a major backer. While using oxide rather than sulfide electrolytes, it is the highest-profile SSB pure-play and directly competes for the same automotive design wins and OEM licensing revenue Ampcera targets.
• SES AI Corporation: SES AI is developing hybrid lithium-metal batteries (liquid + solid electrolyte) targeting automotive OEMs (Honda, GM, Hyundai, Kia). It competes with Ampcera for the same EV OEM qualification slots and serves as a benchmark for the SSB-adjacent public company trajectory.
• Factorial Energy: Factorial Energy develops quasi-solid-state batteries with automotive OEM partnerships (Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, Hyundai). It competes with Ampcera in the EV SSB space and has similar lithium-metal cell technology with comparable energy density targets.
• ProLogium Technology: ProLogium is a Taiwan-based developer of oxide-based solid-state batteries with a large-scale gigafactory in Dunkirk, France. It directly competes with Ampcera in the SSB space with partnerships to multiple automotive OEMs (Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, TotalEnergies).

Emerging players

• Sakuu Corporation: Sakuu (formerly KeraCel) is developing 3D-printed solid-state batteries using a different manufacturing approach but targeting the same SSB market opportunity as Ampcera. It represents an alternative technology pathway to sulfide electrolytes for EV and consumer electronics applications.
• BrightVolt: BrightVolt is a smaller solid-state battery developer focused on sulfide-based chemistries for IoT and consumer applications. It shares technology overlap with Ampcera in the sulfide electrolyte space but operates at a smaller scale and different end-market focus.

Broad incumbents

• Samsung SDI: Samsung SDI is a major Tier-1 battery manufacturer actively developing all-solid-state batteries with commercialization targeted for automotive OEMs. As a broad incumbent with massive manufacturing scale, it represents both a potential customer and competitor to Ampcera's technology licensing and materials business.
• LG Energy Solution: LG Energy Solution is one of the world's largest lithium-ion battery manufacturers with active solid-state battery development programs. It serves as both a potential customer for Ampcera's electrolyte materials and a deep-pocketed competitor that could acquire SSB technology internally.
• CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology): CATL is the world's largest battery manufacturer with active condensed-matter (semi-solid) and all-solid-state battery development programs. It is a potential competitor for global OEM SSB supply contracts and represents the dominant force Ampcera's sulfide materials must displace or partner with.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ampcera

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds10 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ampcera