March 6, 2014 – Institut de recherche d’Hydro-Quebec (IREQ) and Arkema have reached a collaborative research agreement for the development of a new “highly safe” electrolyte from fluoride and non-fluoride salts produced by Arkema, which is “excellent news for both the automotive and the electrification of private and public transport industries”.

“We are pleased that a prestigious group like Arkema, renowned in the world for the high standards of its processes and its products, is interested in the technology developed by our teams,” said Karim Zaghib, director, energy storage and conversion, IREQ.

These industries, says IREQ, are seeking high-quality, cost-effective technologies for the development of materials for electric batteries. This new electrolyte would be suitable for use in lithium-ion and lithium-polymer battery technologies. Arkema has signed a licensing contract on the technology of its fluoride salts to which IREQ will hold intellectual property rights.

“This partnership is strategic for Arkema: it will enable us to speed up our developments and validate our solutions for batteries thanks to IREQ’s world-renowned expertise in lithium-ion batteries,” explained Ian Cayrefourcq, director, emerging technologies, Arkema.