THE PROBLEM: Lithium-ion batteries power consumer electronics, electric vehicles (EVs), military defense equipment, satellites, and much more. While these rechargeable batteries provide high power density, they can catch fire when damaged during impact, excessive heat or misuse: If the battery’s positive and negative electrodes touch, they can ignite the highly flammable electrolyte liquid inside the battery. A thin piece of plastic separates the electrodes, but if the battery is damaged, that plastic layer can fail. Once ignited, lithium-ion battery fires are self-sustaining and not easily contained.  

Batteries include shielding to prevent injury and property damage if a fire breaks out, but this heavy, bulky shielding means batteries often use much of their energy carrying their own weight. In EVs, the extra weight reduces the vehicle’s efficiency and driving range, burdening drivers and making EVs less marketable to consumers. As new technological capabilities require greater power, the size and weight of the battery casing will continue to increase.  

THE SOLUTION: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) developed the Safe Impact Resistant Electrolyte (SAFIRE™) technology to make lithium-ion batteries safer and lighter. SAFIRE is a liquid-to-solid electrolyte formulation that, under normal conditions, performs like a traditional battery electrolyte. However, upon impact – such as from an explosion or blunt force – the electrolyte immediately becomes solid, blocking the negative and positive electrodes from touching and preventing fire. The effect also provides ballistic protection and allows the battery to keep working, even if it is partially damaged. SAFIRE is a drop-in technology that conventional battery manufacturers can incorporate into their process with only minor modifications. 

THE TECH TRANSFER MECHANISM: Development began in 2013 when ORNL researcher Gabriel Veith recognized the need to improve lithium-ion battery safety. Veith developed the technology with funding from ORNL, the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) program and ORNL’s Technology Innovation Program (TIP). In 2017, the technology won an R&D 100 Award. The SAFIRE technology was selected for the FedTech Spring 2020 Startup Studio, where the ORNL team met entrepreneur Michael Grubbs, who was immediately interested in the technology.  

Given the upfront capital required for battery technology startups, ORNL’s Technology Transfer Office (TTO) developed a milestone-driven exclusive license agreement, recognizing that investor interest would hinge on license exclusivity. In 2022, ORNL and Grubbs signed an exclusive licensing agreement for a portfolio of five patents. With the technology secured, Grubbs changed the name of his company from BTRY to Safire Technology Group. At the time of publication, Safire and ORNL continue to operate under a strategic partnership project (SPP) agreement. 

THE OUTCOMES: In 2024, Safire anticipates building a 10,000-square-foot facility in the Knoxville, Tennessee, area to maintain proximity to both ORNL and a wealth of university talent, ensuring economic advantages for both Safire and the region. Safire’s new facility will attract new talent to the area, and the company anticipates having 20 employees through 2025 and increasing beyond that number into 2026.