Anyone who relies on battery-powered electronics has experienced the inconvenience and frustration of drained batteries. But to hold charges longer, batteries generally need to be larger and heavier—forcing manufacturers to choose between prioritizing battery life and offering the lightest, sleekest product.
Texas State University graduate Chris Reyes and his company, Material, are working to eliminate that tough choice. At its headquarters at TXST’s STAR Park technology incubator, the startup is developing a new type of long-lasting, rechargeable, 3D printed batteries. With recent funding from private investors and government contracts, Material is poised to expand in the next half decade, revolutionizing energy storage for industries ranging from defense to medicine and wearable electronics.
Material’s innovative 3D printing process can make batteries of any shape, Reyes explains, which eliminates the need for a separate battery pack: The battery is built into the device itself. What’s more, at a time when political and economic volatility have raised the cost of traditional battery components, Material is building its batteries entirely from domestic ingredients.
“Our batteries are made here, the machines that make the batteries are made here, and the chemicals are all made here,” says Reyes, the startup’s cofounder and chief technology officer. “It’s nice to be able to build a solution for batteries here in America.”