ZEISS Invests in Illumion to Support Next-Generation Battery Imaging Technology
ZEISS Ventures has participated in a £1.7 million funding round for Illumion, a University of Cambridge spin-out developing imaging technology for battery research and development. The round was joined by Foresight Group, Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, Parkwalk, Cambridge Angels, and YourVC.
As global demand for higher-performing and more sustainable batteries grows, Illumion is developing optical imaging solutions that reveal previously inaccessible processes occurring inside working batteries. Its proprietary charge photometry technology enables researchers and engineers to observe individual battery particles during charging and discharging, providing valuable insights for the development and manufacturing of batteries.
It harnesses the principles of optical interference reflection imaging to detect the light scattered by individual particles across an electrode. As ions move in and out of the electrode material, the resulting changes in light scattering reveal the local state-of-charge of each particle. Watch in real-time as each particle charges and discharges, while simultaneously monitoring changes in particle morphology that affect battery performance.
The funding will support the further commercialization of Illumion’s technology, execution of its product roadmap, and collaboration with researchers, battery developers, and industrial partners. This includes the further development of illumionONE for real-time particle-level battery analysis, and the next-generation illumionX platform, which is intended to address selected industrial use cases.
“Illumion combines scientific excellence with innovative imaging technology for battery research. By helping to visualize dynamic processes within batteries at the particle level, the company aims to deepen researchers’ understanding of battery materials and their behavior. We are pleased to support the team as it further develops its optical analytics platform,” says Dr. Boris Hofmann, Head of ZEISS Ventures.
“This funding marks an important next step for Illumion as we translate world-class research into practical tools for battery development. We are excited to continue advancing our technology with the support of ZEISS Ventures, Foresight, and our existing investors,” comments Christoph Schnedermann, Co-founder and CEO of Illumion.
The investment reflects ZEISS Ventures’ commitment to supporting innovative imaging technologies for scientific and industrial applications.
For more information: www.zeiss.com
