GM Ventures recently invested $10 million in Forge Nano, a materials science company specializing in atomic layer deposition. General Motors and Forge Nano have also entered into a strategic partnership agreement to collaborate on potential atomic layer deposition applications for GM batteries.
“GM Ventures’ primary goal is to bring disruptive technology into the GM ecosystem to improve products and processes,” Anirvan Coomer, managing director of GM Ventures, said. “Forge Nano’s Atomic Armor technology has game-changing potential for our battery materials. They have already demonstrated the ability to expand cathode capabilities, which is the most expensive battery cell component. This could unlock benefits for both customers and the business.”
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An atomic layer deposition technique is a method of applying thin-film coatings onto battery materials to control their chemistry and structure. Forge Nano will utilize its Atomic Armor technology to develop thin-film coatings for GM in order to improve battery performance as well as reduce battery costs.
“Forge Nano’s mission is to make better materials for a better world,” Paul Lichty, CEO of Forge Nano, said. “General Motors’ investment will allow us to further enhance battery material performance and durability while allowing us to expand our footprint in other key areas, like semiconductors. We look forward to working closely with GM to enhance battery cell performance for future electric vehicles.”
