What iElectrolyte does

iElectrolyte (株式会社アイ・エレクトロライト) is a privately held Japanese deep-tech company founded in April 2014 and headquartered within Kansai University's Innovation Creation Center in Suita, Osaka. Founded by Professor Masashi Ishikawa of Kansai University's Faculty of Chemistry, Materials and Bioengineering, the company builds on academic research in ionic liquid electrochemistry to develop two product lines: (1) ionic liquid-based lithium-ion batteries designed for safe, non-flammable operation in extreme environments including vacuum, microgravity, and high-temperature conditions, and (2) Powerbinder®, a natural polymer-based electrode binder positioned as a lower-environmental-impact alternative to conventional PVDF binders used in lithium-ion battery electrodes.

The company's core technology is a proprietary fluorine-free ionic liquid electrolyte (FSI-based) that enables battery operation across wide temperature ranges without the flammability risks of conventional organic electrolytes. This technology has been space-qualified, having powered the world's first ionic liquid lithium-ion battery operated in Earth orbit aboard the Hodoyoshi-3 satellite in June 2014, and subsequently adopted by JAXA for the SS-520 No. 5 rocket in 2018. The company monetizes through custom battery cell sales to research institutions and aerospace customers, Powerbinder® material sales and licensing, peripheral equipment (glove boxes), and jointly-funded NEDO research and development contracts. Its customers span aerospace and defense (JAXA), UK battery materials (Echion Technologies), Japanese chemical manufacturers (Dai-ichi Kogyo Seiyaku), and academic research institutions.

Name

iElectrolyte

Legal name

株式会社アイ・エレクトロライト (iElectrolyte Co., Ltd.)

Website

https://ielectrolyte.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

iElectrolyte is a Japanese deep-tech company developing ionic liquid-based lithium-ion batteries and Powerbinder® natural polymer electrode binders for extreme-environment and research applications, serving aerospace (JAXA), chemicals, and academic research customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Battery Materials and Electrochemical Components

NAICS

Battery Manufacturing (33591), Battery Manufacturing (335910)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Adhesives & Sealants (2891)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Battery Cells (Li-ion, LFP, Sodium-ion, Lead-acid, NiMH) (IMAGAHAA), Battery & Energy Storage High-Purity Chemicals (Electrolyte salts/solvents, additives) (IMAEAKAM)

Keywords

• Lithium-ion battery materials
• Ionic liquid electrolyte
• Electrode binder technology
• Battery safety systems
• Space-grade batteries

Headquarters

HQ city

Osaka

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ionic Liquid Lithium-Ion Battery Products: Sale of custom ionic liquid-based lithium-ion battery cells ranging from 100mAh to 2.5Ah capacity, tailored for specific customer applications including aerospace and extreme environment uses. Revenue is generated on a per-unit project basis with custom specifications.
2. Powerbinder® Material Sales: Sale of Powerbinder®, the company's natural polymer-based water-soluble electrode binder, to battery manufacturers. Positioned as a performance-enhancing additive for lithium-ion battery electrode production. Also includes electrodes made using Powerbinder® technology.
3. Small-Lot Electrode Sales: Sale of small-lot electrodes (cathode, anode) to universities, research institutions, and companies for R&D purposes. Also includes sales of peripheral equipment such as high-performance glove boxes.
4. Joint Development and Research Contracts: Revenue from collaborative research and development projects with partners including universities (Kansai University, Tokyo University), JAXA, and corporations. Includes NEDO-funded projects and consortium R&D grants.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

iElectrolyte develops and sells ionic liquid-based lithium-ion battery cells (100mAh–2.5Ah capacity range) that replace conventional organic-solvent electrolytes with non-volatile, non-flammable FSI-type ionic liquids, achieving zero thermal-runaway risk and validated operation in space. The company also manufactures and sells Powerbinder®, a registered water-soluble electrode binder made from natural biopolymers (alginate, gelatin, chitosan) that enables aqueous processing of high-nickel cathode materials (NCA, NCM 532/622/811) without aluminum corrosion. Supplementary offerings include small-lot custom electrodes and high-performance glove boxes for research customers.

Product overview

iElectrolyte offers two core battery technology products: the ionic liquid-based lithium-ion battery (ionic liquid-based LIB) and Powerbinder®, a natural polymer-based electrode binder. The ionic liquid battery eliminates fire risk by replacing conventional organic electrolytes with non-volatile, non-flammable ionic liquids, achieving world-first space operation on Earth orbit. Powerbinder® enables water-based electrode manufacturing using abundant natural materials (alginate, gelatin, chitin), improving battery lifespan and enabling high-Ni cathode materials. Additional offerings include small-lot electrode sales for research institutions and high-performance glove boxes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Powerbinder®: Water-soluble binder based on natural polymer materials for lithium-ion batteries, suitable for high-capacity Ni-based cathode materials and metal oxide anodes. Improves battery life through high thermal stability and oxidation durability.

Products and services

• Ionic Liquid-Based Lithium-Ion Battery A high-safety lithium secondary battery that uses an FSI-type ionic liquid in place of conventional organic-solvent electrolytes. By removing volatile and flammable electrolyte components it achieves zero thermal-runaway risk, suppresses battery swelling, operates in extreme environments (Earth orbit, deep space, aviation), and removes the need for heavy vacuum-resistant enclosures. Custom cells from 100mAh to 2.5Ah are produced to customer specification for aerospace, EV, and industrial applications.
• Powerbinder® A registered, water-soluble electrode binder made from natural biopolymers (alginate from seaweed such as wakame and kombu, gelatin, chitosan). Used as a dispersant and binder for high-nickel cathode materials (NCA, NCM 532/622/811) and metal oxide anodes in lithium-ion batteries. The proprietary slurry pH-stabilization technology enables pH-neutral aqueous electrode processing without aluminum corrosion. Features include hydrofluoric-acid resistance protecting cathodes, high dispersibility maximizing conductive additive performance, suppression of lithium metal dendrite formation on graphite anodes, and improved thermal stability and oxidation durability that extend battery cycle life.
• Small-Lot Electrodes Custom small-lot cathode and anode electrodes manufactured using iElectrolyte's aqueous Powerbinder® process, supplied to universities, research institutions, and corporate R&D groups for battery testing and new material development.
• High-Performance Glove Box Affordable, high-performance glove boxes sold as peripheral equipment to support battery research and development activities at universities and corporate labs.
• Joint Development and Research Contracts Contracted collaborative research and co-development of ionic liquid battery cells, Powerbinder® binder formulations, and aqueous electrode processing with universities (Kansai University, Tokyo University, University for Advanced Studies), government agencies (JAXA), corporate partners (Dai-ichi Kogyo Seiyaku, ELEXCEL, Echion Technologies), and grant programs (NEDO, Ikeda Senshu Bank Consortium).

Quantifiable outcome

• Zero thermal runaway incidents and zero fire accidents in ionic liquid lithium-ion batteries, with stable operation in Earth orbit for over 6 months on the Hodoyoshi-3 satellite without degradation from space radiation or vacuum conditions.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Echion TechnologiescoreTechnology or Integration · 3 February 2022iElectrolyte (Osaka, Japan) and Echion Technologies (Cambridge, UK) jointly demonstrated ultra-long cycle life Li-ion pouch cells combining Echion's Mixed Niobium Oxide (XNO™) anode materials with iElectrolyte's ionic liquid electrolytes, achieving >98% capacity retention after 1,000 cycles and forecasted >12,000 cycles to 80% initial capacity. This partnership targets sustainable electrification of high-performance applications including automotive and industrial markets.
• TPR Co., Ltd. (TPR株式会社)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 26 February 2019TPR Co., Ltd. has co-exhibited with iElectrolyte at multiple industry trade shows including Battery Japan 2019, Battery Japan 2020, nano tech 2020, and Automotive Engineering Exposition 2019. TPR appears to serve as a distribution and exhibition partner for iElectrolyte's products at major Japanese battery and technology exhibitions.
• University for Advanced Studies (総研大)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2016Joint research partner with Kansai University, Tokyo University, and JAXA in the ionic liquid lithium-ion battery development that received the Electrochemical Society of Japan Paper Award in 2016.
• Kansai UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 June 2014iElectrolyte originated from Kansai University's Electrochemistry Laboratory led by Prof. Masashi Ishikawa (CEO). The company maintains ongoing joint research with Kansai University, including collaborative development of ionic liquid lithium-ion batteries, Powerbinder®, and evaluation of satellite battery systems. The university provides research talent and facilities at the Innovation Creation Center where iElectrolyte's headquarters is located.
• Dai-ichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd. (第一工業製薬)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 June 2014Dai-ichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd. collaborated with Prof. Ishikawa and iElectrolyte to jointly develop the ionic liquid lithium-ion battery for space applications. Together with ELEXCEL, the three parties developed the battery that was launched on the Hodoyoshi-3 satellite, with Dai-ichi Kogyo Seiyaku contributing to the ionic liquid electrolyte development.
• ELEXCEL Co., Ltd. (エレクセル株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 June 2014ELEXCEL Co., Ltd. partnered with Prof. Ishikawa and iElectrolyte to jointly develop the ionic liquid lithium-ion battery for space applications. The company was one of three parties (alongside Dai-ichi Kogyo Seiyaku) that developed the battery adopted for the Hodoyoshi-3 satellite mission.
• JAXA (宇宙航空研究開発機構)coreTechnology or Integration · 20 June 2014JAXA adopted iElectrolyte's ionic liquid battery as the power supply for electronic equipment on the world's smallest orbital rocket SS-520 No. 5, launched February 3, 2018. JAXA also collaborated in joint research with iElectrolyte, Kansai University, Tokyo University, and University for Advanced Studies that won the Electrochemical Society of Japan Paper Award in 2016.
• Tokyo University — Prof. Shinichi NakasugacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 June 2014Tokyo University's Prof. Shinichi Nakasuga developed the Hodoyoshi-3 satellite on which iElectrolyte's ionic liquid lithium-ion battery was launched and tested. This partnership enabled the world's first orbital demonstration of the battery technology. Prof. Nakasuga's satellite provided the critical validation platform for iElectrolyte's technology.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• QuantumScape: QuantumScape is a publicly listed developer of lithium-metal solid-state batteries for EVs. It is a broad incumbent alternative to iElectrolyte's ionic-liquid approach, addressing the same thermal-runaway and energy-density concerns in lithium batteries but with a substantially larger capitalization and EV-cell focus.
• JSR Corporation: JSR Corporation is a Japanese specialty materials company producing binders, dispersants, and electrode components for lithium-ion batteries. It is a broad incumbent competing with iElectrolyte's Powerbinder® natural-polymer binder business in the lithium-ion electrode materials market.
• UBE Corporation: UBE Corporation is a Japanese chemical manufacturer that produces lithium-ion battery electrolytes (including specialty solvents and additives) for global cell makers. It is a broad incumbent electrolyte supplier with a comparable Japan-domestic base and overlapping customer set to iElectrolyte.
• Solid Power: Solid Power is a publicly listed developer of sulfide-based solid-state battery cells and electrolytes, targeting EV and aerospace applications. It is a broad incumbent competing with iElectrolyte on the same non-flammable battery thesis, but with a much broader cell-platform scope and deeper capital base.
• Central Glass Co., Ltd. Central Glass is a Japanese manufacturer of lithium-ion battery electrolytes and a leading global producer of ionic liquids used across multiple industries. It is a broad incumbent and the most direct established ionic-liquid supplier in iElectrolyte's chemistry category, with greater scale and global reach.
• Mitsubishi Chemical Group: Mitsubishi Chemical Group (including Mitsubishi Chemical, Tanaka Chemical) is a major Japanese producer of lithium-ion battery electrolytes, cathode materials, and separators. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping electrolyte and electrode-materials business, well-capitalized and globally distributed versus iElectrolyte's boutique chemistry focus.

Direct peers

• Ampcera: Ampcera develops solid-state electrolyte and cathode materials for next-generation lithium batteries, including sulfide and oxide-based systems. It is a direct peer because it competes with iElectrolyte at the battery-electrolyte materials layer targeting improved safety and energy density.
• Echion Technologies: Echion Technologies (Cambridge, UK) supplies Mixed Niobium Oxide (XNO™) anode materials for fast-charging, long-cycle-life lithium-ion batteries and is iElectrolyte's named co-development partner. The two companies integrate Echion's anode with iElectrolyte's ionic-liquid electrolyte, making them complementary and competitive peers in specialty cell materials.
• Natrion: Natrion develops solid-state sodium and lithium-ion electrolyte materials for safer, higher-energy batteries. It is a direct peer because it competes at the electrolyte and battery-materials layer on a similar "non-flammable, high-safety" value proposition that iElectrolyte's ionic-liquid platform targets.

Emerging players

• Sila Nanotechnologies: Sila Nanotechnologies produces silicon-anode battery materials aimed at higher energy density for EVs and consumer electronics. It is an emerging player in the advanced battery materials space, partially overlapping with iElectrolyte's Powerbinder® electrode-materials business and its safety/cycle-life value proposition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about iElectrolyte