US company Soteria Battery Innovation Group has licensed a new current collector technology from Rutgers University aimed at improving the safety and durability of lithium-ion batteries. 

The technology addresses a growing challenge in battery systems: cracking and separation of electrodes from the current collector as cells age and undergo repeated expansion and contraction during use. 

Developed by researcher Glen Amatucci from Rutgers University, the innovation will be added to Soteria’s Battery Safety IP Exchange, making it available for wider industry licensing. As battery makers push for higher energy density, maintaining electrode stability is becoming increasingly critical to performance and safety.

Charging cycles weaken key battery components over time

As lithium-ion batteries go through repeated charge and discharge cycles, their electrodes can expand and contract, causing cracks and weakening contact with conventional metal foil current collectors. Over time, this can increase electrical resistance, generate excess heat, and accelerate battery degradation.

In response to this challenge, the team led by Amatucci developed a patented reticulated current collector design aimed at improving both battery durability and safety. The technology replaces traditional solid metal foils with a lightweight, porous polymer structure coated in thin conductive metal layers, creating a more flexible architecture that can better accommodate the expansion and contraction of electrodes during repeated charging cycles.

Built around a three-dimensional architecture, the technology is designed to improve flexibility while reducing weight and enabling more uniform current distribution. It also supports better electrolyte transport and helps limit resistance buildup and heat generation as batteries age, addressing key factors behind performance loss and safety risks.

Seeing its potential for next-gen battery systems, the company has added the technology to its Battery Safety IP Exchange, where manufacturers will be able to access it through a collaborative licensing model.

Battery safety gains may lie in current collector design

According to Soteria Battery’s CEO Brian Morin, current collectors remain an often overlooked component in battery design despite their significant impact on both safety and performance. He noted that improving this part of the battery could unlock important gains in durability, efficiency and overall reliability.

“The Rutgers technology approaches the challenge from a different direction than our own metallized polymer current collector developments, and that’s a novel approach we wanted to bring forward into our Battery Safety IP Exchange. By bringing complementary technologies together, we can give manufacturers greater flexibility in how they design safer batteries.” Morin said in a statement. 

The company also adds that the Battery Safety IP Exchange was created to streamline access to safety-focused battery technologies through a shared, collaborative licensing framework. The platform brings together complementary intellectual property from universities, national laboratories, startups and established industry players, aiming to reduce barriers to adoption and speed up commercialization. 

By aggregating these technologies in one ecosystem, the IPX is intended to help accelerate the deployment of practical battery safety solutions across the broader lithium-ion battery industry.

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