National Science Foundation awards grant toward solid-state battery research & development

Piersica, Inc. announced it has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Programs Phase II award for $1 million. The NSF grant is designed to support the research and development of a new class of highly conductive solid polymer separator membranes compatible with high-voltage cathodes.

The company’s next-generation solid-state battery will enable extended battery capacity for a wide variety of rechargeable products, ranging from mobile phones and laptop computers to EVs and robots. Furthermore, given the high energy density of Piersica’s battery technology, the company expects its solid-state battery will facilitate the introduction of completely new applications, including electric aircraft and long-range electric delivery drones.

Founded and led by battery industry veteran Dr. Claudiu Bucur, Piersica is pioneering the development of innovative battery technology using proprietary materials created by the company. Piersica’s technology includes:

• a proprietary new lithium-conductive polymer,
• a highly conductive solid polymer electrolyte layer,
• a solid 3D lithium-metal anode layer, and
• a solid, high-voltage, cobalt-free cathode layer.

With these innovations, the company aims to deliver a battery with an industry-leading energy density of 630Wh/kg—approximately 2.5x higher than current lithium-ion batteries—pushing the boundaries of lithium-based battery technology.

“We are honored to receive NSF’s Phase II grant,” says Claudiu Bucur, CEO of Piersica Inc. “This funding will enable Piersica to further validate our advanced technology and proprietary materials. It marks a critical step in our journey as we advance our developmental cells into a multi-layer prototype of our next-generation, solid-state battery, which will be ready for demonstration to potential customers in 2025.”

Once a small business is awarded a Phase I SBIR/STTR grant (up to $275,000), it becomes eligible to apply for a Phase II (up to $1,000,000). Small businesses with Phase II funding are eligible to receive up to $500,000 in additional matching funds with qualifying third-party investments or sales.

The NSF Phase II grant is the sixth SBIR/STTR award that Piersica has received since 2022, totaling $1.9 million of non-dilutive capital. In addition, in April 2024, the company received a grant from the Shell GameChanger program, in which Piersica is still an active participant.