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Pseudocapacitive carbon molecular crystals for ultrafast-charging battery anodes

Technology

Conceptual

University

Direct pyrolysis of a carbon molecular crystal (coronene) yields low-surface-area nanocrystalline graphitic carbon rich in pseudocapacitive lithium binding sites that retain capacity at ultrafast charge rates up to about 40C.

Background

The global shift toward renewable energy, electrified transportation, and AI infrastructure is creating urgent demand for lithium-ion batteries that charge rapidly while maintaining energy density, cost efficiency, cycle life, and safety. The DOE targets 5-15 minute charging to 80% state of charge, costs under $100/kWh, and 300-mile range per charge. Graphite, the dominant anode material since the 1990s, cannot meet these combined requirements.

Pseudocapacitive materials are considered the most promising for extreme fast charging, but state-of-the-art options are metal oxides with high costs, high lithiation potential, or reliance on rare, heavy elements.

Technology Overview

MSU researchers developed a new class of carbon-based anode materials using crystalline polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecular solids. The lead material, hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC), features a crystal structure enabling rapid edge-site lithiation plus interlayer lithiation. "True pseudocapacitance has not previously been achieved" by carbon-based anodes. The herringbone structure supports ultrafast charging rates graphite cannot sustain—reaching 6-minute charges without exceeding 20% capacity loss or compromising cycling stability.

Benefits

Extreme fast charging: 10 minutes to 80%, 6 minutes to 76%; >97% retention over 600 cycles
High energy density: 823 Wh/kg (electrode-level), 273 Wh/kg (cell-level)—exceeding graphite
High power density: 16 kW/kg (electrode-level), 5.3 kW/kg (cell-level)—unprecedented for carbon anodes
Composed of abundant carbon and hydrogen—low-cost and scalable
Tunable performance through controlled heat treatment
Broad platform technology covering PAH precursors and mixtures

Opportunity

The technology is available for licensing and commercialization. Research collaboration with MSU includes expanding the PAH platform and optimizing cell-level performance. The technology applies to electric vehicles, energy storage, consumer electronics, defense applications, and grid storage (data centers). A comprehensive characterization is under peer-review publication.

IP Status

Provisional patent filed: Application number 64/037,824.

About Montana State University

Montana State University's substantial research enterprise growth has been accompanied by focused investments in innovation and research translation, creating new opportunities for companies to engage with MSU research and expertise. A particular strength is MSU’s network of specialized centers, institutes, and industry-accessible core facilities, which bring together multidisciplinary expertise, advanced research infrastructure, testing capabilities, and established pathways for working with industry partners. MSU is one of a select group of universities participating in the NSF's Accelerating Research Translation (ART) program, which is building the capacity and infrastructure needed to translate more research discoveries into solutions with real-world impact. The growing MSU Innovation Campus and expanding incubator infrastructure provide additional opportunities for university-industry interaction, startup development, and technology-focused companies. These efforts are complemented by MSU’s Technology Transfer Office, which works with researchers and companies to protect and license MSU inventions and facilitate industry-sponsored research collaborations.