What I'MSEP does

I'MSEP Co., Ltd. (アイ'エムセップ株式会社) is a Japanese university-born R&D venture founded in April 2006 and headquartered in Kyotanabe, Kyoto Prefecture. The company specializes exclusively in Molten Salt Electrochemical Process (MSEP) technology, originating from over 50 years of research led by Kyoto University Professor Emeritus Yasuhiko Ito. I'MSEP operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEC Carbon Co., Ltd. since April 2020, with its R&D department physically co-located inside SEC Carbon's facilities. The company is self-described as the world's only R&D venture dedicated to molten salt electrolysis.

The company's technology platform enables six core application areas: CO2 resource utilization (converting CO2 into solid carbon via molten salt electrolysis), electrolytic carbon plating (impossible in aqueous systems), atmospheric-pressure ammonia synthesis, plasma-induced metal nanoparticle manufacturing, rare earth element recycling from scrap materials via electrochemical implantation/dealloying, and low-temperature electrochemical nitriding. Product offerings include laboratory and bench-scale electrolysis equipment (processing temperatures up to 900°C, currents from 100A lab units to 3000A commercial-scale units), technology licensing, and experimental guidance services. The patent portfolio comprises 30 domestic Japanese patents and 5 international patents (including US) covering processes and apparatus.

I'MSEP's business model combines multiple revenue streams: technical consulting (technology surveys, feasibility studies, equipment design consulting), contract research using company R&D facilities, direct equipment sales to universities and manufacturers, and government grant funding through NEDO programs (via parent SEC Carbon). Customer segments span universities and research institutions, automotive and materials manufacturers, chemical companies, infrastructure and petroleum companies, and plating enterprises. Key enterprise relationships include parent SEC Carbon for EV battery carbon materials and Cosmo Oil for CO2-to-valuable materials (CCU) joint research under a January 2024 basic agreement. The GTM is direct and enterprise-focused, primarily through technical consulting engagements and industry-academia collaboration frameworks rather than mass-market channels.

Name

I'MSEP

Legal name

アイ'エムセップ株式会社

Website

https://imsep.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Short description

I'MSEP is a Japanese R&D venture and SEC Carbon subsidiary specializing in molten salt electrochemical process (MSEP) technology. It sells laboratory electrolysis equipment, provides technical consulting, and conducts contract research for CO2 utilization, carbon plating, ammonia synthesis, nanoparticle manufacturing, and rare earth recycling.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electrochemical Engineering Services

NAICS

Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Smelting and Refining (33141)

SIC

Primary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3330)

akta.pro primary industry

EDM & Electrochemical Machining (Wire/Sinker EDM, ECM) (IMAHADAF)

Keywords

• Molten salt electrolysis
• Electrochemical reactor R&D
• CO2 resource utilization
• Electrolytic carbon plating
• Molten salt consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Tanabe

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Technical Consulting Services: Provides technology consulting for social implementation of molten salt electrochemical process technologies. Includes technology surveys, technology replication support, experiment guidance, equipment design/development consulting, electrolyzer simulation analysis, feasibility studies, and grant application support.
2. Experimental Equipment Sales: Sells molten salt electrolysis experimental equipment including CO2 electrolysis units, metal refining electrolysis equipment, and discharge electrolysis equipment. Equipment specifications include processing temperatures up to 600°C or 900°C, electrolysis current up to 100A, and crucible sizes standard φ90×H130.
3. Contract Research: Conducts contract research for clients including universities, automotive manufacturers, and materials manufacturers. Provides experimental guidance using company's R&D facilities.
4. Government Research Grants: Participates in NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) research programs. Parent company's graphite material non-fossil fuel feedstock R&D theme was selected for NEDO's Leading Research Program/New Technology Leading Research Program in 2024.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

I'MSEP provides molten salt electrochemistry (MSEP) R&D services, selling proprietary technology platforms and experimental electrolysis equipment. Core deliverables include technology consulting, contract research, experimental guidance, and specialized laboratory/bench-scale molten salt electrolysis equipment for CO2 electrolysis, metal smelting, and discharge electrolysis. Applications span CO2 utilization, electrolytic carbon plating, ammonia synthesis, metal nanoparticle manufacturing, rare earth recycling, and electrolytic nitriding.

Product overview

I'MSEP is a university-born R&D venture offering MSEP (Molten Salt Electrochemical Process) technology solutions through three main categories: specialized laboratory and bench-scale electrolysis equipment (including experimental equipment, large CO2 electrolysis units, metal smelting systems, and discharge electrolysis equipment), proprietary technology platforms for CO2 utilization, electrolytic carbon plating, ammonia synthesis, metal nanoparticle manufacturing, and rare metal recycling, and technical consulting services including experimental guidance and equipment development support. The product portfolio centers on molten salt electrochemistry applications across environment, energy, resources, and nanotechnology sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Molten Salt Electrolysis Experimental Equipment Laboratory-scale molten salt electrolysis equipment for CO2 electrolysis, alkali metal electrolysis, and other processes. Supports up to 600°C or 900°C operation, up to 100A electrolysis current, chloride or carbonate molten salt compatibility, and Ar/N2/CO2 purge gas support. Sold to universities and manufacturers.
• Large-Scale CO2 Electrolysis Equipment Large-scale bench equipment for CO2 electrolysis designed for commercial-scale testing, with electrolysis current of 100–3000A and bath volume of 50–250L.
• Metal Smelting Electrolysis Equipment Large-scale electrolysis equipment for alkali metal and alkaline earth metal electrolysis refining, with capacity of 100–3000A current and 50–250L bath volume.
• Discharge Electrolysis Equipment Specialized electrolysis equipment for plasma-induced electrolysis processes used in nanoparticle manufacturing.
• Experimental Guidance Services Technical training and guidance services using I'MSEP's experimental facilities for molten salt electrolysis procedures. Includes safety-focused introductory processes and customer-specific objective processes.
• Technology Consulting Services Comprehensive consulting services covering technology surveys, technical replication support, experiment guidance, equipment design/development consulting, electrolyzer simulation analysis, feasibility studies, and grant application support for MSEP technologies.
• CO2 Utilization Technology Technology for converting CO2 into solid carbon materials using molten salt electrolysis, producing various carbon morphologies and structures for energy conversion devices, fuel cells, and metal refining. Social-implementation program partners include SEC Carbon and Cosmo Oil.
• Electrolytic Carbon Plating Technology Achieves electrolytic carbon plating using molten salts as the electrolytic bath—impossible in aqueous systems—enabling carbon coatings on metal substrates for improved corrosion resistance and device performance.
• Ammonia Electrolytic Synthesis Technology Atmospheric pressure ammonia synthesis through molten salt electrolysis. Two methods supported: from hydrogen and nitrogen (theoretical electrolysis voltage 0.05V) and direct synthesis from water and nitrogen (1.17V). Targets reduced CO2 emissions versus Haber-Bosch.
• Metal Nanoparticle Manufacturing Technology Plasma-induced cathode electrolysis for producing metal nanoparticles from any metal element using the same equipment configuration; supports continuous manufacturing via rotating disc systems for uniform particle sizes.
• Si Nanoparticle Manufacturing Technology Direct production of silicon nanoparticles from SiO2 powder using plasma-induced cathode electrolysis in molten salts, targeting lithium-ion battery anodes and solar cells.
• Rare Metal/Rare Earth Recycling Technology Electrochemical recycling technology using electrochemical implantation/dealloying for selective rare earth element recovery from neodymium magnets and other materials, requiring fewer electrolysis cycles than conventional solvent extraction.
• Electrolytic Nitriding Technology Surface nitriding technology using molten salt electrolysis for enhanced hardness and corrosion resistance. Enables treatment of complex shapes and low-temperature nitriding below 300°C without damaging base material properties.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully developed atmospheric pressure ammonia synthesis with theoretical electrolysis voltage of 0.05V for H2+N2 method and 1.17V for H2O+N2 method. Achieved continuous electrolysis at terminal voltage of 2.0V.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Five-Party Industry-Academia Framework (産学５者)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 May 2026New five-party industry-academia collaboration established for bench-scale verification of CO2-derived solid carbon production using molten salt electrolysis technology. I'MSEP is part of this consortium working on scaling up the CO2 utilization technology.
• Cosmo Oil (コスモ石油)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2024Cosmo Oil and I'MSEP signed a basic agreement for joint research on CO2-to-valuable materials conversion (CCU) using molten salt electrolysis technology. This partnership aims to convert CO2 into solid carbon using I'MSEP's proprietary technology.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Climeworks: Climeworks is the leading direct air capture (DAC) company focused on CO2 capture, providing an adjacent technology platform serving the same CO2 utilization and decarbonization end markets I'MSEP targets.
• CarbonCure Technologies: CarbonCure commercializes CO2 utilization in concrete and building materials, addressing the same global CCU demand that I'MSEP's CO2-to-carbon platform targets with a different end-product.
• Starfire Energy: Starfire Energy is developing electrochemical and catalytic ammonia synthesis at atmospheric pressure, directly competing with I'MSEP's molten salt ammonia electrolytic synthesis technology.

Broad incumbents

• Norsk Hydro: Norsk Hydro operates large-scale aluminum smelting using molten salt electrolysis and is actively pursuing greener aluminum technologies, making it a relevant broad incumbent in the molten salt electrochemistry space.
• Alcoa: Alcoa is one of the world's largest producers of aluminum via the Hall-Héroult molten salt electrolysis process, sharing I'MSEP's core molten salt electrochemistry heritage at industrial scale.

Direct peers

• Phoenix Tailings: Phoenix Tailings uses molten salt electrolysis for rare earth and critical mineral extraction and recycling, directly overlapping with I'MSEP's electrochemical implantation/displantation for rare earth recovery.
• Aqua Metals: Aqua Metals uses electrochemical processes to recover and refine metals (lead and lithium) from batteries, overlapping with I'MSEP's molten salt electrochemical refining of nonferrous metals.
• C2CNT: C2CNT converts CO2 into carbon nanotubes and other carbon products using molten carbonate electrolysis, a direct technical analog to I'MSEP's CO2-to-carbon molten salt electrolysis platform.

Others

• Hatch: Hatch is a global engineering firm specializing in metallurgical process plant design, including molten salt electrolysis cells, providing comparable engineering and scale-up services that I'MSEP also offers through its technical consulting.
• Mersen: Mersen supplies graphite electrodes and components used in industrial electrolysis cells, positioning it as a key materials supplier and ecosystem participant for any company scaling molten salt electrolysis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 I'MSEP