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NEI Expands Selection of Materials for Lithium-ion & Sodium-ion Batteries

January 13, 2022

Somerset, New Jersey (USA) – Today, NEI Corporation announced customers can now order from an expanded selection of cathode, anode, and solid electrolyte materials for both lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries. The company, which is a leader in the development, manufacture, and supply of specialty materials, has been a go-to organization for producing and delivering custom powders and dispersions of particles in liquids and polymers, as well as electrodes cast on metal foil.

NEI offers a variety of battery materials, with a particular forte in producing specialty materials with compositions and particle morphologies that are not commonplace. In addition, NEI has expertise in producing composite particles that have a surface coating. Off-the-shelf products are sold under the tradename NANOMYTE®.

“We want our customers to easily access high quality and consistent battery materials so they can focus on their core mission,” said Dr. Ganesh Skandan, CEO of NEI Corporation. “The NEI team stands ready, willing, and able to produce and supply materials that our customers want, in any quantity needed, for them to pursue their commercialization efforts.”

Particle Size Distribution graph of Na0.44MnO2+x , which is typical of most of NEI's sodium based cathode/anode powders

Particle size distribution (PSD) of Na0.44MnO2+x , which is typical of most of NEI’s sodium based cathode/anode powders.

NEI has been routinely supplying increasing quantities of simple metal oxide compositions such as Na0.44MnO2+x and Na0.7MnO2+x with a narrow particle size distribution. The portfolio of sodium-ion compositions now includes more complex materials, such as sodium iron phosphate (NaFePO4), sodium nickel phosphate (NaNiPO4), sodium titanium phosphate (NaTi2(PO4)3), sodium chromium oxide (NaCrO2), and others. The average aggregate particle size (D50) for most compositions can be tailored to be in the range of 1 – 2 µm, with the primary particles being much smaller. The particle structure can be further tuned to include a surface coating of carbon or a conducting polymer, such as polyaniline, PANI, or an ionically conducting ceramic material. Some of the materials have been tested and validated in-house using half-cell configuration (i.e., sodium metal anode). For example, Na0.44MnO2+x has a second cycle charge and discharge capacity that is > 105 mAh/g.

Second cycle charge/discharge profile of Na0.44MnO2+x cathode powder

In addition to engineering the particle morphology, all sodium-based cathode and anode materials can be supplied as cast electrodes on a current collector of choice. Customers can specify the active material, binder content, amount of conducting carbon and active material per unit area (in case of cathode and anode).

NEI Corporation has built a reputation for supplying consistent and high-quality solid electrolyte materials – oxide materials, such as Al-doped lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (LLZO) and tantalum-doped LLZO (LLZTO), phosphate compounds, such as LATP or LAGP, and a variety of sulfide-based materials. While the average particle size (D50) for these standard powders is in the 3 – 5 microns range, customers can request a smaller D50.

Cole-Cole plot of sintered LAGP pellet

Cole-Cole plot of sintered LAGP pellet

The ionic conductivity of the oxide materials, measured in-house using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy in a test cell shown in the inset of the picture (left), is in the range of 1 x 10-4 S/cm to 5 x 10-4 S/cm, and that of sulfides can be as high as 1 x 10-3 S/cm.

A recent and exciting development has been the offering of composite solid electrolyte materials in the form of either a polymer-based dispersion or cast membrane. Customers can choose any oxide ceramic solid electrolyte and a base polymer or co-polymer from PEO, PVDF, PVDF-HFP, and PAN. The type of lithium salt in the polymer can be selected from LiTFSI, LiClO4, LiFSI, and LiBOB.

In addition to increasing the suite of materials being offered, NEI has developed new materials synthesis capabilities, which serve as demonstration stations for exploring new compositions that are difficult to produce using conventional processing. A case in point is precursor materials obtained from recovered nickel, cobalt and manganese salts from recycled lithium-ion batteries. The solution-precipitation setup, installed at NEI, serves as a test-bed to determine processing parameters for materials such as NMC532 and NMC622, or any mixed metal oxide for that matter.

There is also increasing interest in cathode materials that are fluorinated and/or contain vanadium, which as multiple valence states and can lead to high capacities. To this end, NEI has produced LiFeSO4F and LiVPO4F with a high degree of crystallinity and phase purity.

Overall, the introduction of these new materials and processes will provide new capabilities to lithium battery developers and manufacturers to enable practical solid-state batteries. Dr. Skandan adds, “It is exciting for the team at NEI to tread on uncharted waters and explore synthesis and processing of new materials, and particularly using newly developed processes. We welcome the opportunity to serve the needs of the Battery community.”

Download Press Release (pdf) ↓

About NEI: Founded in 1997, NEI develops, manufactures, and sells advanced materials for a broad range of industrial customers around the world. The company’s core competencies are in designing, developing, and producing products that meet the specific application needs of its customers. More importantly, NEI is a solutions provider, working closely with customers to produce and implement materials for their applications. NEI’s products, which are sold under the registered trademark NANOMYTE®, are backed by a suite of issued and pending patents. NEI’s products include:  Lithium-ion Battery Materials, Na-ion Battery Materials, Functional & Protective Coatings, and Specialty Nanoparticle-based products. NEI also offers associated materials characterization and testing services.

For more information, give us a call or email us.

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NEI Introduces Optically Transparent Hardcoat with UV Protection

June 30, 2021

Somerset, New Jersey (USA) – NEI Corporation announced today that it has introduced NANOMYTE® UVP-100, an optically transparent coating that provides simultaneous protection from ultraviolet radiation, as well as from scratching and abrasion. A key attribute of the single layer UVP-100 coating is that it is relatively thin, only about 5 – 10 microns thick. The new coating can be used on a wide variety of polymer materials, particularly those that are susceptible to damage by ultraviolet light from the sun. NANOMYTE® UVP-100 complements NEI’s portfolio of functional coatings, which include easy-to-clean, hydrophobic, anti-fog, anti-ice, and abrasion resistant coatings.

UVP-100’s coating composition has a unique chemistry that’s comprised of highly efficient UV-absorbing materials that are incorporated into a hard coat matrix. The figure below shows the UV-Vis spectrum of UVP-100 on glass, as compared to that of an uncoated glass control. 90% of the UV radiation with wavelength <375 nm is essentially blocked with a film approximately 6 µm thick. The coating remains fully transparent and is highly stable to UV radiation. The coating showed no damage (e.g., cracking and delamination) even after 250 hours of continuous exposure to intense UV radiation (0.9 W/m2) at 60°C in QUV accelerated weathering testing.

UV-Vis Spectrum of UVP-100

UV-Vis spectrum of UVP-100 vs. uncoated glass (control)

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Uncoated polycarbonate plaque (left) vs. NANOMYTE® UVP-100 coated polycarbonate plaque (right) – after exposure to ultraviolet light for the same time period

The development of NANOMYTE® UVP-100 coating is based on NEI’s patented NANOMYTE® SR-100 scratch resistant coating technology, which is being used in a number of commercial applications. Using standard abrasion tests, such as ASTM D-1044 (500-gram load, CS-10F wheel, 1000 cycles), uncoated polycarbonate will generate a measured delta haze of 30 – 35%. Commercially available hard coatings on polycarbonate lead to a delta haze of 2% to 6%. By comparison, NANOMYTE® SR-100 typically generates < 1% delta haze (ASTM D1044), and UVP-100 exhibits a delta haze value under 2%. Additionally, NEI’s UVP-100 coating has excellent chemical resistance, passing the 2-hour test for 0.1N HCl, 0.1N NaOH and xylene (i.e., no damage can be seen after 2 hours exposure to the above chemicals). The coating also has good solvent resistance – displaying no damage after 200 double rubs of MEK on the coating surface.

Application of UVP-100 is easy, using standard coating processes (such as immersion, flow, or spray coating) that require no specialized equipment. NEI also supplies a primer product – NANOMYTE® SR-Primer – which works well with a range of plastics to promote adhesion.

Additional Information: NANOMYTE® UVP-100 Technical Data Sheet | Safety Data Sheet (Part A) ♦ (Part B) | Request a Quote

Download Press Release (pdf) ↓

About NEI: NEI Corporation is an applications-driven company that utilizes materials science & chemistry to develop and produce Advanced Materials for a broad range of markets. NEI’s line of Protective Coatings provide tailored functionalities, such as hydrophobicity, self-healing, fog resistance, self-cleaning (or easy-to-clean), scratch resistance, anticorrosion, and icephobicity.

NEI is most receptive to new applications brought to it by its customers. A typical interaction begins by applying the coating on the customer’s parts and submitting it to the customer for evaluation. Either parts are coated at NEI’s applications laboratory, or the customer procures a sample quantity of liquid coating for in-house application. The implementation process then moves through pilot scale tests and eventual qualification. NEI’s engineers support the development and qualification efforts of its customers every step of the way, including drawing up technical specifications and engaging with third party coating applicators, if necessary.

For more information, give us a call or email us.

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3DBattery Company and NEI Corporation Receive BIRD Energy Program Grant

September 15, 2020

3DBattery Company and NEI Corporation receive grant from the BIRD Energy Program to take a Systems Approach to Next Generation of High Energy Density Lithium-ion Batteries

NEI Corporation (New Jersey, USA) and 3DBattery Company (headquartered in Israel), announced today that the BIRD Energy program has awarded the companies a $900,000 grant for the integration of an advanced anode material with a water-based electrode deposition process, leading to a new generation of high performance and low-cost Lithium-ion batteries. The eighteen-month project aims to first develop cathode materials that can be used with a water-based ion-conducting polymer binder, followed by pairing with a silicon-based anode. The performance of the new materials and associated processes will be demonstrated at the pouch-cell level.

SEM of coated cathode particles (NEI Corporation)

The grant was awarded by BIRD Energy, a program established by the U.S. Department of Energy and Israel’s Ministry of Energy together with the Israel Innovation Authority. The program is managed by the Israel-U.S. BIRD (Binational Industrial Research and Development) Foundation.

BIRD Energy has a rigorous review process and selects the most technologically meritorious projects along with those that are most likely to commercialize and bring about significant impact. Selected projects address energy challenges and opportunities that are of interest to both countries.

NEI Corporation is a leader in the development, manufacture and supply of specialty lithium-ion battery materials. NEI offers a variety of cathode, anode, and electrolyte materials, with a particular forte in producing specialty materials with compositions and particle morphologies that are not commonplace. In addition, NEI has expertise in producing composite particles that have a surface coating. All NEI products are sold under the tradename NANOMYTE®.

3DBattery Company is a startup company specializing in the design, development, and manufacture of innovative energy storage solutions. The company is bringing a paradigm change in the architecture of a lithium-ion cell. 3DB’s main product is a silicon-based anode (AnoSep®), which presents an economical and scalable solution to increase battery capacity, battery cyclability, and fast charging of at least 6C (10 minutes charge to full capacity). The company has vast experience in ion-conductive polymers, polymer synthesis, water-based slurries, battery electrochemical processes, thin-layer and surface phenomena, and particle coating.

The BIRD Energy funded project will enable NEI and 3DBattery to merge their disparate, yet complementing, technologies and capabilities toward a common goal of advancing the state of the art of Lithium-ion battery technology. The team has adopted a Systems Approach, wherein advances in materials and processing are integrated so as to deliver high performance in practical batteries.

“We are proud to support the project between 3DBattery and NEI Corporation to develop cathode and ion-conductive polymers that will lead to improved lithium ion batteries,” said Dr. Eitan Yudilevich, Executive Director of BIRD Foundation. “The BIRD Foundation will continue to support innovative projects that develop solutions for present and future challenges.” Mr. Erez Schreiber, CEO of 3DBattery Company, believes that cross-border partnership will be a key enabler in advancing the business interests of the company while focusing in technology development in Israel. 

Dr. Ganesh Skandan, CEO of NEI Corporation, said, “This is our first ever program through the BIRD Foundation, and we are excited to be working with 3DBBattery, who has a unique approach to ion-conducting binder materials, as well as anodes.”

3DBattery and NEI Corporation expect to roll out the first generation of their respective anode and cathode products by the end of the first quarter of 2021. The products will be optimized while the production is scaled through the rest of 2021.

Download Press Release (pdf) ↓

About 3DBattery Corporation
3DBattery (3DB) is a startup company based in Israel, specializing in the design, development, and manufacture of innovative energy storage solutions. 3DBattery(3DB) developing the next generation green, low-cost material synthesis and fabrication of high-performance lithium-ion batteries. Delivering high energy, high power, fast charging, and high cycling stability in-conjunction with intrinsically low fire propensity and advanced environmentally friendly fabrication technology. The company addresses all market segments, such as electro-mobility (EV and alike), energy storage (ESS), and specialty industries (like Medical Devices and Hearing Aids).

For more information, contact: contact@3DBattery.co.il | (+972) 54 9992112 | www.3dbattery.co.il

About NEI Corporation
NEI develops, manufactures, and sells advanced materials for a broad range of industrial customers around the world. The company’s core competencies are in designing, developing, and producing products that meet the specific application needs of its customers. More importantly, NEI is a solutions provider, wherein they don’t only produce materials, but also work closely with customers to implement them into their applications. NEI’s products, which are sold under the registered trademark NANOMYTE®, are backed by a suite of issued and pending patents. NEI’s products include: Functional & Protective Coatings, Lithium-ion Battery Materials, and Specialty Nanoparticle-based products.

For more information, contact: sales@neicorporation.com | +1 (732) 868-3141 | www.neicorporation.com

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NEI Introduces Three New Battery Materials to its Product Line

June 24, 2020

Somerset, NJ (USA) – NEI Corporation recently introduced three new products, further expanding its product line of Battery Electrode Sheets. The new materials cater to the growing need in the industry for high performance cathode and anode electrodes for lithium and lithium-ion batteries.

NANOMYTE® BE-70E is a cast electrode sheet of Sublimed Sulfur powder. Sulfur cathodes offer a high theoretical capacity of 1,672 mAh/g in a Li-S cell, which is an order of magnitude higher than those of the transition-metal oxide cathodes. The high capacity is based on the conversion reaction of sulfur to form lithium sulfide (Li2S) by reversibly incorporating two electrons per sulfur atom. Li−S cell consists of a lithium metal anode, an organic electrolyte, and a sulfur composite cathode, which leads to a theoretical cell capacity of 1,167 mAh/g. BE-70E has a practical capacity of at least 800 mAh/g. The discharge reaction has an average cell voltage of 2.15 V, resulting in a high theoretical gravimetric energy density of 2,509 Wh/kg at the cell level.

NANOMYTE® BE-150E is a cast electrode sheet of Silicon-Graphite composite powder. Silicon (Si) has attracted great attention due to its remarkably high theoretical specific capacity of ~4200 mAh/g, making it one of the most potential anode materials for advancing high-energy lithium-ion batteries. Si-Graphite composite (Si-C) offers the leverage to improve the electrochemical properties of Si with excellent stability attributed to the surrounding carbon-based matrix and improved electric conductivity network. Si-C tapes showed a nominal capacity of 750 mAh/g at 0.05C (electrode loading, 4 mAh/cm2) and demonstrated excellent cycling stability at 0.2C rate.

NANOMYTE® BE-400E is a cast electrode sheet of Niobium Oxide powder (Nb2O5), which is a new electrode material with pseudocapacitive charge storage being introduced to the market for the first time as a potential anode material. It is capable of exceptionally high rate charge as well as discharge (6 – 10C), with good cycling stability (1,000 – 3,000 cycles) and minimal heat generation during high-rate charge-discharge. The unique architecture of the oxide material enables rapid lithium diffusion on a macro and micro-scale enabling enhanced rate performance.

NEI offers a variety of cathode and anode electrode sheets, suitable for a wide range of Lithium-ion battery applications. Standard electrode sheets are cast single-side on 5″ x 10″ foil current collectors, and are available in ready-to-ship packages of 2, 5, and 10 sheets (per material). For customers with specific needs, tape specifications such as the active material loading, coating thickness, binder type (aqueous/non-aqueous), binder content, or current collector can be modified.

Additional Information: Specification Sheets ¦ Safety Data Sheets

Download Press Release (pdf) ↓

About NEI Corporation: NEI is an application driven company that utilizes nanotechnology to develop and produce advanced materials. The company’s core competencies are in synthesizing nanoscale materials and prototyping products that incorporate advanced materials. NEI Corporation offers cathode and anode materials (both powders and coated electrodes), and solid state electrolytes for use in lithium-ion batteries. We produce battery materials through our scalable and economical solid state synthesis process, which is adaptable to different materials compositions and particle morphologies.

For more information, give us a call or email us.

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NEI Coating Product Update

NANOMYTE® TC-4001-UVP Offers Protection Against Damage by UV-C Radiation Used to Disinfect Coronavirus

May 6, 2020

Somerset, NJ (USA) – NEI Corporation announced today that its newly developed NANOMYTE® TC-4001-UVP product has been shown to offer protection against damage from short-wavelength ultraviolet radiation. Ultraviolet radiation in the 100nm – 280nm wavelength range, also referred to as UV-C, is increasingly being considered as a means for disinfecting surfaces that large numbers of people are likely to come in contact with, such as parts of transit systems, theme parks, cinema theaters, public restrooms, airports, and other areas of high traffic. The COVID-19 virus has made frequent cleaning of surfaces a top priority for maintenance managers of high traffic areas. However, UV radiation causes significant damage to painted surfaces by creating free radicals that then cause polymer degradation. The NANOMYTE® coating offers protection for surfaces exposed to UV-C radiation.

TC-4001-UVP Spectroscopic Graph

NANOMYTE® TC-4001-UVP Spectroscopic Measurements

NANOMYTE® TC-4001-UVP shows remarkable ability to block UV-C, as evidenced by spectroscopic measurements shown in the adjacent figure. All radiation below 350nm is blocked completely by a film that is only 1/5 mil (5 microns) thick. The transparent coating is a single component formulation designed to protect metals and other surfaces from degrading, preserving their structural integrity and appearance. The hard, dense, and smooth coating is a composite consisting of organic and inorganic phases. It resists scratching and chipping and adheres strongly to bare, pretreated, or painted metal surfaces. A variety of other surfaces may be coated as well, such as plastics and composites. The coating is easily applied by immersion, spraying or brushing, in thicknesses ranging from microns to mils, and is available in glossy or matte finishes.

NEI’s extensive line of functional coatings, which includes NANOMYTE® TC-4001-UVP, is already in commercial use in many industrial, aerospace, consumer goods, wireless communication, and other sectors.

1000 Hours Constant UV Exposure: Polycarbonate in QUV Chamber with UVA 340 Lamps @ 0.9 W/m2

The company’s approach has been to be open and receptive to new applications brought to it by its customers. A typical interaction begins by applying the coating on the customer’s parts for evaluation. Parts are either coated at NEI’s applications laboratory or the customer procures a sample quantity of liquid coating for in-house application. The implementation process then moves through pilot scale tests and eventual qualification. NEI’s engineers support the development and qualification efforts of its customers every step of the way, including drawing up technical specifications and engaging with third party coating applicators, if necessary.

Additional Information: NANOMYTE® TC-4001-UVP Technical Data Sheet (TDS) | Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

View / Download Press Release (pdf) ↓

About NEI Corporation:

NEI is an application-driven company that utilizes materials science & chemistry to develop and produce Advanced Materials. NEI offers an array of Functional Coatings for metal and polymer surfaces. The coatings have tailored functionalities, such as Easy-to-Clean, Anti-Ice, Self-Healing, Corrosion resistant, Anti-Fog, and Abrasion Resistant.

For more information, give us a call or email us.

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New Anti-ice System Advances to Next Technology Level

Full-scale Prototype Demonstration of a New Hybrid Technology to Prevent Icing on Aircraft and Drones

January 15, 2020

Somerset, NJ (USA) – Invercon Inc. and NEI Corporation announced today that their newly developed de-icing system was tested successfully at the NASA Glenn Research Center’s Icing Research Tunnel. The test was witnessed by engineers and scientists at the Research Center, as well as from the industry. The Invercon-NEI team met the objective of demonstrating a low power anti-ice system in conjunction with NEI’s NANOMYTE® SuperAi anti-ice coating that prevents ice accretion on the leading edge of an airfoil. The test was performed on a full-size airfoil under simulated in-flight conditions, following nearly two years of development and laboratory testing.

All commercial aircraft have a built-in ice protection system, which could be either a thermal, thermo-mechanical, electro-mechanical, or pneumatic system. A common issue with de-icing devices is that they consume substantial power. Aircraft generally look to reduce power consumption, and with the advent of battery-powered aircraft, mechanisms or features that reduce power consumption are critically important. Icing presents a particular challenge for commercial and military drones, where ice can build up on the wings and propellers and result in crashes. In fact, the current practice is not to fly drones when icing conditions are predicted. Applying a passive anti-ice coating that functions synergistically with an active de-icing device is an attractive hybrid approach, which the team of NEI and Invercon has now demonstrated on full-scale prototypes.

NEI’s NANOMYTE® SuperAi anti-ice coating is a durable coating, suitable for permanent application. The coating leads to a lubricating surface that drastically reduces the adhesion strength of ice – by as much as 80%, compared to bare polished aluminum. The coating is usually applied by spraying, similar to conventional painting. NANOMYTE® SuperAi coating is available for commercial use.

Figure 1: MQ-1 wing test section installed in the IRT tunnel.

Invercon has developed a new, retrofittable, electro-pneumatic deicing system that combines the most attractive aspects of several existing systems without their associated drawbacks. The Invercon system requires remarkably low power (≤ 2.5 kW), is retrofittable on any airfoil, adds very little weight (~50 lbs), and is durable enough to last the life of the aircraft once retrofitted. Importantly, the system looks, feels, and acts like the original leading edge and can provide millions of maintenance-free deicing cycles. The entire wing test section (Figure 1) was coated with NANOMYTE® SuperAi.

Invercon successfully completed icing tests of the electro-pneumatic deicing system at NASA Glenn’s Icing Research Tunnel (IRT) under a full range of representative icing conditions. The Invercon system was able to provide continuous deicing of the wing section leading edge over all of the test conditions ranging from temperatures of -3°C to -20°C with various liquid water content. Typically, the system allows ice to accrete for about 2 minutes and then completely sheds upper and lower surface ice upon system activation.

The testing at NASA’s IRT, which is the longest running icing facility in the world, has moved the hybrid technology to a readiness level of 6 (i.e., TRL6), which is a scale used by NASA and Department of Defense to gauge the maturity level of a technology.

Both NEI Corporation and INVERCON LLC are grateful for the financial support extended by the Small Business Innovation Research Program from the Air Force and NASA. The SBIR program funds product development efforts that reduce concepts to practice and then to prototypes, thereby reducing technology risk. The successful full-scale demonstration by the team has advanced a new technology to a state of commercial readiness.

View / Download Press Release (pdf) ⇓

About NEI Corporation:

NEI Corporation is an application-driven company that utilizes nanotechnology to develop and produce advanced materials. The company’s core competencies are in synthesizing nanoscale materials and prototyping products that incorporate the advanced materials. NEI offers an array of Advanced Protective Coatings for metal and polymer surfaces. The coatings have tailored functionalities, such as anti-corrosion, self-healing, scratch resistance, ice-phobic, and self-cleaning.

For more information, give us a call or email us.

About Invercon LLC:

Invercon’s mission is to develop advanced technologies that enable revolutionary leaps forward in aircraft performance and safety.  For rotorcraft, these include centrifugally powered, pneumatic actuation systems that can actively trim rotors and de-ice rotor blades using almost no power or weight, resulting in significantly improved performance and safety.  For fixed wing aircraft, Invercon has developed extremely low power deicing solutions using a novel electro-pneumatic actuation approach.

For more information, give us a call or email us.

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NEI Corporation receives new Patent Allowance

October 8, 2019

Somerset, NJ (USA) – NEI Corporation announced today that the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has recently issued a notice of allowance to the company on a patent application for producing a new class of energetic, core-shell nanoparticles.

Core-shell nanoparticles with a metal core can be used in various applications, such as energetic, pyrotechnics, joining, medical imaging, liquid hydrocarbon fuels, munitions, and energy storage. However, the presence of an oxide layer on the surface of the core metal nanoparticles can significantly reduce the performance of the core-shell nanoparticles. Consequently, the negative impact of the oxide layer outweighs the benefits of high enthalpy nanoparticles. NEI’s patent is directed at synthesizing a new core-shell nanoparticle structure comprised of a metal core, a metal boride intermediate layer, and an outer metal or metal oxide shell. The key characteristic of this core-shell structure is that it allows the use of both pristine metal, as well as oxygen containing metal particles, whereby the oxide surface layer of the metal particles is transformed into metal boride.

Metal-metal boride-metal based core-shell particles and a method to produce the same

Abstract: A new class of energetic nanoparticles and a method to produce the same. The energetic nanoparticles are differentiated from other metallic energetic nanoparticles by their core-shell nanostructure, including an intermediate boride layer that provides oxidation protection and acts as an active mass. An intermetallic reaction occurs between aluminum and nickel. Aluminum based nanoparticles were used for the examples, but the principle is applicable to other materials as well.

Patent History

Patent number: 10421695
Type: Grant
Filed: Jul 20, 2015
Date of Patent: Sep 24, 2019
Assignee: NEI Corporation (Somerset, NJ)
Inventors: Mohit Jain (East Brunswick, NJ), Biju Mathew (Monroe, NJ)
Primary Examiner: Robert S Cabral
Application Number: 14/803,673

View / Download Full Patent (pdf) ⇓

About NEI Corporation

Founded in 1997, NEI Corporation is an application driven company that utilizes nanotechnology to develop and produce advanced materials. The company’s core competencies are in synthesizing nanoscale materials and prototyping products that incorporate advanced materials to create significant performance improvements in manufactured goods. NEI’s products include advanced protective coatings, high performance battery electrode materials, and specialty nanoscale materials for diverse applications. NEI’s state-of-the-art manufacturing and testing facility includes high temperature furnaces with controlled atmospheres, mixing, blending and drying equipment, coaters, particle characterization instruments, corrosion testing equipment, polymer films & coatings characterization, and a Li-ion battery testing laboratory. Learn more »

For more information, give us a call or email us.

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NEI Addresses Unmet Self-Healing Needs for Transparent Polymeric Films Market

June 18, 2019

Somerset, NJ (USA) – NEI Corporation announced today that it has successfully demonstrated application of its NANOMYTE® MEND 1000 self-healing coating technology on PET film. The coated film is able to recover from repeated scuffing and scratching after heating to 60°C, typically using hot water or a hair dryer. Self-healing is achieved by a thermally-induced, physical self-healing phenomenon which leads to gap closing and crack sealing. This allows the coating to heal repeatedly at the same defect location, which helps to reduce life cycle costs by increasing the service life of the coated material. NEI’s MEND coatings exploit a unique phase-separated morphology that facilitates delivery of the self-healing agent to the damage site (such as a scratch or crack), thereby restoring the coating appearance & function.

There are numerous applications for polymeric films produced in the roll-to-roll coating industry, including signage, vehicle wraps, interior and exterior wall wraps, and protective overlaminates such as those commonly found on touchscreens or installed over window glass. These films are typically relied upon to protect from physical damage or to reduce the transmission of light while providing heat rejection, features which are in high demand for automotive and architectural glass.

Roll-to-roll processes present unique challenges for coatings in terms of the speed and temperature necessary to achieve a sufficient cure. Line speed requirements will often dictate that curing occur within a period of 1-2 minutes at temperatures around 100°C. To increase the speed of cure to better suit continuous, roll-to-roll processing of coated film, NEI now supplies a catalyst additive which can reduce the dry-to-touch (DTT) time to as little as 1 minute at 100°C (exact time and temperature will depend on wet film thickness and other processing conditions), which has allowed its customers in the roll-to-roll coating industry to successfully process the coating.

NEI supplies three versions of its popular NANOMYTE® MEND self-healing coating products to meet different performance and processing requirements:

  • MEND 1000 – heat cure, 60°C healing temperature
  • MEND 2000 – heat cure, 25°C healing temperature
  • MEND 3000 – ambient cure, 60°C healing temperature

The coatings are supplied as 2 components, Parts A and B, which are mixed before application. Further customization can then be accomplished with the addition of a catalyst to speed up curing and/or a reducer to adjust viscosity. NEI can also supply coating formulations with increased viscosity to meet process requirements. Please refer to the product technical datasheets for further guidance. To enhance light-stability and weatherability, NEI also offers its MEND product line with UVP technology to protect sensitive surfaces by blocking UV light while preserving the coating performance. This feature can be critical for some applications, such as those which may cause yellowing of sensitive polymers. NANOMYTE® UVP coating products have demonstrated their ability to endure a minimum of 1000 hours of weatherability testing per ASTM D4587, “Accelerated Weathering under Fluorescent UV-Condensation Exposure”. The testing was performed in a QUV chamber under the conditions specified in ASTM G154, Cycle 1, the most commonly used exposure cycle designed to simulate severe outdoor service conditions.

NANOMYTE® MEND coating products can be applied by a variety of processes, including spraying, dipping and flowing. NEI also offers in-house coating services for customer’s parts as well as coating development services, wherein coating formulations are created to address specific customer requirements.

Links to Technical Data Sheets:

Additional Information: Safety Data Sheets ♦ MEND Product Page ♦ Demonstration Video

View / Download Press Release (pdf) ↓

About NEI Corporation: NEI Corporation is an application-driven company that utilizes nanotechnology to develop and produce advanced materials. The company’s core competencies are in synthesizing nanoscale materials and prototyping products that incorporate the advanced materials. NEI offers an array of Advanced Protective Coatings for metal and polymer surfaces. The coatings have tailored functionalities, such as anti-corrosion, self-healing, scratch resistance, ice-phobic, and self-cleaning.

For more information, give us a call or email us.

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NEI introduces NANOMYTE® SE-50, Polymer-Ceramic Composite Electrolyte

May 22, 2018

Somerset, NJ (USA) – NEI Corporation is excited to introduce its latest product: NANOMYTE® SE-50. The solid electrolyte is a hybrid, polymer-ceramic composite material for use in solid state lithium batteries. SE-50 has high Li+ ionic conductivity, is compatible with 5V cathode materials, and provides very low resistance in the cell, making the innovative material unique among available solid electrolytes.

The two key challenges for achieving high performance solid state batteries are the low ionic conductivity of many solid electrolytes and the large impedance posed by the electrode-electrolyte interface. SE-50 has been engineered to address these challenges by having a high Li+ ionic conductivity, combined with low interfacial resistance between the electrode and solid electrolyte. These properties are enabled by the unique elastomeric self-adhesive properties of the solid electrolyte. In addition, SE-50 has excellent electrochemical stability, which allows its use with high voltage cathode materials, such as NMC.

NANOMYTE® SE-50 is used as the separator and is added to the electrode as well, where it can be cast either into a free standing film or directly onto a cathode tape for cell assembly. When fabricating cells, the polymer-ceramic electrolyte is incorporated into the electrode tape in order to confer ionic conductivity to the electrode. This is in contrast to cells using a liquid electrolyte, where the liquid electrolyte molecules can get access to the pores in the electrode. When used in conjunction with traditional binders, such as PVDF, SE-50 serves as a conductive binder to afford Li+ conductivity in the electrodes and reduce the interfacial resistance between the cathode and electrolyte. After the cathode containing NANOMYTE® SE-50 is fabricated, the solid electrolyte can then be cast directly onto the cathode tape. The cathode and separator layers can then be combined with the anode to complete cell assembly.

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About NEI Corporation:

NEI Corporation is an application driven company that utilizes nanotechnology to develop and produce advanced materials. The company’s core competencies are in synthesizing nanoscale materials and prototyping products that incorporate advanced materials. NEI Corporation offers cathode and anode materials (both powders and coated electrodes), and solid state electrolytes for use in lithium-ion batteries. We produce battery materials through our scalable and economical solid state synthesis process, which is adaptable to different materials compositions and particle morphologies.

For more information, give us a call or email us.

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NEI Corporation introduces UV-Protect Technology to NANOMYTE® Coating Line

March 7, 2018

Somerset, New Jersey (USA) – NEI Corporation announced today that it has introduced UV-Protect (UVP) technology to formulate enhanced versions of its popular NANOMYTE® coating products, which offer unique functionalities in coatings with unparalleled durability. The NANOMYTE® line of protective coatings and surface treatments provide tailored functionalities, such as hydrophobicity, superhydrophobicity, oleophobicity, superoleophobicity, self-healing, fog resistance, self-cleaning (or easy-to-clean), scratch resistance, anti-corrosion, and anti-icing. They have found wide applicability in the industrial and automotive markets for their versatility and ability to be applied to a variety of surfaces – including glass, plastic, fiber-composite, metal, and ceramic. UVP technology imparts enhanced protection from the effects of sun and weather exposure to maintain the unique properties of their coating products when subjected to long-term outdoor exposure.

The newly-introduced product lineup consists of:

UVP Technology Brief (pdf)

NANOMYTE® coating products with UVP technology have demonstrated their ability to endure a minimum of 1,000 hours of weatherability testing per ASTM D4587, “Accelerated Weathering under Fluorescent UV-Condensation Exposure.” The testing was performed in a QUV chamber under the conditions specified in ASTM G154, Cycle 1, the most commonly used exposure cycle designed to simulate severe outdoor service conditions. The UVP functionality has been incorporated into each coating system without degrading other performance characteristics or ease of application. The cured film is both inherently resistant to the sun’s UV radiation, as well as capable of providing UV protection for the underlying surface. This, for example, allows the NANOMYTE® MEND product line to maintain excellent gloss and appearance in outdoor applications, such as automotive coatings. Polymer and composite materials can be particularly sensitive to the effects of UV exposure, which can have a variety of undesirable effects, beginning at the surface and often spreading throughout the bulk of the material. Surface attack immediately begins to compromise coating adhesion, eventually resulting in cracking and peeling. UV-degraded materials may also change colors, often resulting in the familiar yellowing of plastics and lose mechanical strength, making them prone to failure. UVP coatings block UV radiation, which protects surfaces by preserving coating adhesion and aesthetics, and prevents further penetration of UV light which can compromise the material’s strength and appearance.

Outdoor exposure can present additional challenges for surfaces to resist buildup of dirt, airborne contaminants, corrosion, and even ice. NEI’s line of durable protective topcoats, formulated as one-component, ambient-cure systems for ease of use, now offer UVP technology to extend their performance and shield sensitive surfaces. NANOMYTE® SR-500EC-UVP can protect a wide variety of surfaces from the effects of outdoor exposure, coupled with an easy-to-clean functionality with enhanced weatherability. For surfaces prone to icing, NANOMYTE® SuperAi-UVP not only helps keep surfaces clean, but also enhances their ability to shed ice buildup, all while providing excellent protection from the elements. Both of these coatings can maintain excellent hydrophobicity, with a static water contact angle of 100 – 105°, even after 2,000 hours of QUV exposure, while NANOMYTE® SuperAi-UVP maintains a low ice adhesion value of less than 1 psi after more than 1,000 hours of exposure. NANOMYTE® TC-4001-UVP and TC-5001-UVP have been optimized for metals to form a hard, durable coating with excellent barrier properties to prevent moisture penetration and corrosion.

NEI’s coating products featuring UVP technology can be applied by conventional processes, such as dipping, brushing or spraying. NEI also offers in-house coating services for customer’s parts, as well as coating development services, wherein coating formulations are created to address specific customer requirements. The development of NANOMYTE® UVP functional coatings has come about as a result of NEI’s capabilities in creating functionalized nanocomposite coatings. In addition to imparting protective and aesthetic properties, NANOMYTE® coatings lead to gains in productivity and efficiency and therefore can be used in many applications that traditionally have not used paints or coatings.

Additional Information:

Download Press Release (pdf) ⇓

About NEI Corporation:

NEI Corporation is an application-driven company that utilizes nanotechnology to develop and produce advanced materials. The company’s core competencies are in synthesizing nanoscale materials and prototyping products that incorporate advanced materials. NEI offers an array of Advanced Protective Coatings for metal and polymer surfaces, with tailored functionalities such as anti-corrosion, self-healing, scratch resistance, ice-phobic, and self-cleaning.

For more information, give us a call or email us.

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