NOHMs Technologies, a lithium-sulfur battery spin-off from Cornell University, will locate a new research, manufacturing and product development facility in Lexington, Kentucky. The company will use the Kentucky-Argonne Battery Manufacturing Research and Development Center, a partnership of the Argonne National Laboratory, the state and the Universities of Kentucky and Louisville. Ford, Hitachi and Toyota are some of the automotive manufacturers already conducting research at the center.

NOHMs, which was founded in 2010, has developed a lithium-sulfur technology that builds a composite micro-porous carbon framework that hosts electro-active nanoparticles. According to the company, this carbon framework is (i) flexible to tolerate many charge-discharge cycles; (ii) porous to allow full-access for lithium-ions to active material; (iii) electrically conductive; and (iv) scalable for manufacturing, providing an advantage over other particle-based, coating-based, or substrate-based solutions. NOHMs has successfully tested its materials in battery prototypes.

A host of dignitaries celebrated the announcement of NOHMs’ new facility.

“We are talking about 162 high-quality jobs and an investment of more than $5.3 million in the Commonwealth by an innovative company with an eye to the future, especially in a crucial field where economics, energy and the environment intersect,” said Governor Steve Beshear.

“NOHMs Technology’s decision to bring its facility to Lexington is a sign that the Commonwealth will remain a leader in the auto industry, even as we work toward putting high-quality electric vehicles on our nation’s highways,” said Rep. Ryan Quarles of Georgetown.

“This move will enable our company to take the next step to develop and commercialize our products across a variety of markets,” said Nathan Ball, CEO of NOHMs. “We chose Kentucky because of the state’s reputation for manufacturing and a talented workforce, strong support from the state for the battery and automotive industry and the facilities at KY-Argonne.”

Image: faria! (flickr)
Source: NOHMs Technologies via Green Car Congress