This year marks the tenth anniversary of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs). The DOE Office of Basic Energy Sciences launched forty-six such centers in 2009 to bring together teams of scientists to perform basic research beyond what is possible for individuals or small groups. To celebrate the ten-year milestone, DOE selected ten awardees to recognize their having made a major impact on scientific ideas, technologies and tools, and people. Hence, the award name is ​“Ten at Ten.”

It’s always hard to leave a dream job.

But in 2011, Samir Mayekar ’13 KSM ’06 WCAS knew it was the right time to go back to school and take a shot at entrepreneurship. His roles, working at the intersection of national security and energy under the Obama Administration, came to an end and he was eager to make a difference in the clean energy space.

Fast forward to 2019 and a company he founded, NanoGraf Corporation (formerly SiNode Systems), is the maker of an advanced battery material that could turn the lithium-ion battery market – with applications from consumer electronics to electric vehicles – on its head.

News Release: Usabc Awards $7.5 Million Technology Development Contract for Commercialization of High-Energy Anode Materials to Nanograf Technologies

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 17, 2019 – The United States Advanced Battery Consortium LLC (USABC), a subsidiary of the United States Council for Automotive Research LLC (USCAR), and a collaborative organization of FCA US LLC, Ford Motor Company and General Motors, today announced the award of a $7.5 million technology development contract to NanoGraf Technologies in Chicago, Illinois for commercialization of high-energy anode materials.

If society successfully transitions to a green-energy future, odds are battery innovation will have helped get us there. By allowing the storage of sustainably produced energy, batteries have the potential to transform carbon-intensive systems as vast as the power grid and transportation sector

CHICAGO, IL (February 7, 2019) – NanoGraf Corporation, a Chicago-based developer of advanced materials raised an additional $1 million in Series A financing. The new investment comes from Hyde Park Angels and brings the total amount raised for the round to $5.5M. The initial investment came from JNC Corporation, a Tokyo-based specialty chemical manufacturer.

SiNode will be exhibiting at the 2018 International Meeting on Lithium Batteries in Kyoto, Japan from June 17-22, 2018. Come visit us at Booth 22!

SiNode was honored to be selected by Jigar Shah as his “2017 Startup Story of the Year” in Greentech Media’s Energy Gang podcast. Jigar highlighted SiNode’s unique technology, commercialization model, and philosophy of customer-led development.

PITTSBURGH–(BUSINESS WIRE)–PPG (NYSE:PPG) today announced it has entered into a partnership with SiNode Systems to accelerate the commercialization of high-energy anode materials for advanced battery applications in electric vehicles. The 30-month project will enable the partners to rapidly develop and demonstrate anode materials that will store more energy than conventional lithium-ion battery materials, enabling electric vehicles to travel farther on a single charge or to have a lighter-weight battery.

SiNode partnered with Northwestern to publish a journal article highlighting our perspective on commercializing battery innovation. Specifically, we focus on applying learnings from the pharma commercialization model.

SiNode Systems was featured in a Greentech Media story entitled “A Battery-Material Startup Applies Lessons From the Venture Capital Bust”

After awarding SiNode Systems the 2017 Sustainable Practice Impact Award, VentureWell interviewed SiNode CEO Samir Mayekar on a range of topics.

We are thrilled to share that SiNode was selected as the 2017 recipient of the VentureWell Sustainable Practice Impact Award. VentureWell was our very first funder and is an organization that envisions a world in which science and technology innovators have the support, training, and access to networks and resources they need to solve the world’s most difficult problems.

The SBA recently featured SiNode Systems as an SBIR success story.

SiNode Systems was awarded a prestigious Small Business Voucher for a joint project with the battery experts at Argonne National Laboratory.

Chicago, IL, June 20, 2016 – The United States Advanced Battery Consortium LLC (USABC), a collaborative organization of FCA US LLC, Ford Motor Company and General Motors, today announced the award of a $4 million contract to SiNode Systems Inc., in Chicago, Illinois, for development of advanced anode materials for automotive lithium-ion battery applications.

SiNode Systems will be exhibiting at both the 2016 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and Battery Japan in Tokyo from February 22 – March 4th. Please stop by Hall 5 Booth I31 to learn more information about how our advanced battery materials platform can bring your customers value.