Bradley Schneider
Elizabeth Barna
Case Western Reserve University - Weatherhead School of Management
Chris Laszlo
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The innovation of the business is to offer a sustainable, safe, stable, economical, versatile, high-performing battery. Octet Scientific focuses on optimizing the chemicals in zinc batteries at a molecular level to help with the issues of dendrites. By improving the chemicals that create the reaction in zinc batteries and limiting the dendrites that grow, Octet Scientific is introducing a new power player in the battery industry.
Octet Scientific’s innovation is small but mighty. Their work begins with organic chemistry, signified by their namesake which references the octet rule, which states that elements bond in a way that has eight electrons to their valence shell. Instead of reinventing the wheel, Octet Scientific pursues constant optimization at the molecular level. Many chemicals that react with zinc to create batteries exist to work with as many metal and chemical combinations as possible. Octet Scientific was founded with the belief that molecular specificity can lead to radical change. They molecularly tweak pre-existing chemicals to improve their efficiency and limit their inefficiencies. Some of the company’s improvements have led to increased cycle life and longevity, or the speed and amount of times a battery can be charged or discharged, respectively.
Their work also limits dendrite growth in zinc batteries. Dendrites are formed during the charging process and weaken the power density, cycle time, and longevity of batteries. Octet Scientific engineers and innovates ways to mitigate the detrimental effects of dendrites that can lead to total battery failure. They are pursuing these improvements because of their belief in a green battery. Lithium-Ion batteries are currently being used in almost every mobile technology from cell phones all the way to electric cars. Lithium is a nonrenewable resource and is not recycled efficiently, unlike zinc. By optimizing zinc batteries for consumer electronics, grid power and stationary electronics, backup power, Octet Scientific is leading the way in the pursuit of “the world’s greenest battery.”
Onas Bolton, Octet Scientific's founder, was working in electroplating for the semiconductor industry and was making chemicals that helped adhere copper to semiconductors. Electroplating is extremely difficult and Onas was working on making new molecules to make the process less difficult and more efficient. He worked in Cleveland and his company was moving their Research and Development department to Germany, but he was in touch with Rohan Akolkar, a chemical engineering professor at Case Western Reserve University. Rohan consulted Onas with his electroplating problem with zinc batteries. Onas realized he could make molecules to help plate specific metals rather than resorting to “one size fits all” molecules. After this discovery, he began building Octet Scientific with the goal of revolutionizing the zinc battery industry. Our interviewee Emily Dickens, who is the head of Product Development, began as an intern and is now approaching two years at Octet Scientific.
The overall impact of Octet Scientific is creating zinc batteries that will be nonhazardous, versatile, plentiful, and recyclable versus what is commonly used today such as lithium batteries. Since battery-operated technologies are only growing, having an advancement such as recyclable zinc batteries to support this growth is extremely important. Zinc batteries are more sustainable, more plentiful, more benign, and less hazardous than many alternatives consumers have today. Hopefully one day, consumers will have more economical battery choices for everyday life.
The business benefit is that the molecularly modified chemicals used in zinc batteries are easily scalable. As innovations and improvements are continually made, it is easy for Octet Scientific to modify their chemicals at a large scale. Another benefit of working with batteries is the prominence of the battery industry. Computers, telephones, and gaming systems are just a few examples of the larger trend of cordless technology. As more technology is developed and mobilized, diversification of battery materials will be necessary to supply the heightened demand. Octet Scientific will be there, behind the scenes, optimizing the chemistry behind zinc batteries.
Lithium is the primary resource used in battery-powered technologies. Like previously mentioned, lithium is a nonrenewable resource with only around 5% of it being recycled per year. At the current growth rate, 60% of the entire lithium supply chain will be going towards electric vehicles. This is an unsustainable and harmful model that will eventually collapse as lithium becomes more scarce. Not to mention the unregulated and unethical mining conditions of the precious metal. Octet Scientific’s work not only benefits the environment due to the abundance of zinc and the easy recycling process, but it also benefits society. The United States Department of Energy seeks to domesticate energy production and Octet Scientific is cementing its legacy as a trailblazer in that regard. The company seeks to diversify the types of batteries that are available for use by consumers and companies and continues to find success in its reinvention of the zinc battery.
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Emily Dickens, Head of Product Development
Octet Scientific is working on innovating the chemistry to unlock the full potential of zinc batteries. Octet is focused on enabling tomorrow’s greenest batteries by changing them at the molecular level. The fundamental benefits are that zinc is sustainably mined and recyclable and there is no chance of thermal runaway like lithium batteries, which are very commonly used. Octet Scientific creates chemicals to help zinc batteries maximize their potential and minimize their economic and environmental impacts. They have worked with Duracell, Eos Energy Storage, and Æsir and continue to grow their green impact in the battery industry.