Immaterial: super-adsorbent nanomaterials to dramatically reduce the cost of separating, storing and transporting gas
Winner of the Emerging Technologies Competition 2015
Case study: October 2020
What was their business idea?
The company has developed a breakthrough technology which enables the widescale use of a novel class of materials, known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), for the first time. These materials act as ‘molecular sponges’, enabling a wide range of highly efficient gas- and liquid-based separations.
Where are they now?
After using their prize money to purchase specialist equipment, the business was awarded £240,000 from the UK’s Energy Catalyst initiative in 2016. Since then, significant funds have been raised through grants and competitions, allowing the team to grow. Recently, the business has sought to differentiate its work and provide an edge by taking an active role in working across a wide range of markets and applications including hydrogen purification, respiratory protection, and next-generation HVAC systems.
What are Immaterial’s plans for the future?
The team are currently working on a huge range of projects, while also planning to take on a formal partner to support with business development.
Immaterial envisions a three-stage evolutionary business model. Currently, it's a solutions company, working with partners to solve specific separation challenges, for example, to purify an industrial gas stream.
As these projects reach fruition, Immaterial will sell metal organic framework (MOFs) to perform those separations and become a primarily materials manufacturing company. Ultimately, porous materials are far broader than the MOF pellets Immaterial develops, covering thin films, nanoparticles and composite structures, all of which have their own uses. Immaterial intends to build expertise in all of these and serve as the commercialisation arm for academic groups seeking to license their own technology, making it a multi-product technology company.
What was their favourite part of taking part in the Emerging Technologies Competition?
“Participating in the Emerging Technologies Competition was incredibly helpful for our progress, particularly in terms of encouraging us to think of the commercial potential of our idea, and how we position this to different audiences. The credibility that comes from being associated with the Royal Society of Chemistry also added weight to our proposition as we engaged with prospective partners and other funding streams.”
What the team say
“Participating in the Emerging Technologies Competition was incredibly helpful for our progress, particularly in terms of encouraging us to think of the commercial potential of our idea, and how we position this to different audiences. The credibility that comes from being associated with the Royal Society of Chemistry also added weight to our proposition as we engaged with prospective partners and other funding streams.”
Dr Andrew Marsden, CEO, Immaterial
Contact us
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- Emily Vipond