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Rolls Royce agrees 'critical' deal to develop battery technologies
Aerospace engineering giant Rolls Royce has entered into an agreement with UK company Superdielectrics to develop materials that challenge the dominance of traditional batteries.
Superdielectrics made waves earlier this month over its work with researchers from Bristol and Surrey universities to identify a polymer, originally developed for soft contact lenses in the 1970s, as potentially critical in the race to develop new superconductors and electric car batteries.
It is hoped that the polymer will increase the electricity storage capabilities of supercapacitors which store electricity by creating electrostatic fields.
Dave Smith, director of central technology at Rolls Royce, said: "We believe that electrification will play an increasingly important role in many of our markets over the coming years and by working with partners on potential new technologies for energy storage we can ensure that Rolls-Royce is well positioned to take advantage of new developments."
Superdielectrics has filed patents on its potential polymers, which are not limited by rarity of resources in the same manner as lithium-ion batteries.
Jim Heathcote, chief executive of Superdielectrics, said: "We are delighted to be working with Rolls-Royce in the global race to develop advanced energy storage systems. This agreement gives us access to their unparalleled scientific and technical expertise. I hope this agreement will ultimately create new jobs and business opportunities in the UK."
At Rolls Royce's full year results presentation on 7 March, chief executive Warren East hinted at further electronic research by the company, referring to electrification as "an inescapable trend in industrial markets".
As of 1028 GMT, Rolls-Royce Holdings' shares were down 0.95% at 893.00p.