Prieto Battery

About Prieto Battery

Prieto Battery, Inc. is an advanced materials company operating from its lab and headquarters in Fort Collins, Colorado, focused on the commercialization of its proprietary 3D interdigitated solid-state, lithium-ion battery technology. The company was founded in 2009 as a spin-out from Colorado State University by Dr. Amy Prieto, a professor of chemistry at the university. Dr. Prieto's academic and professional journey, including a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, and postdoctoral work at Harvard University, laid the groundwork for the company's scientific direction. Her approach was unconventional; she prioritized the development of a scalable, simple, and low-cost manufacturing process first, and then engineered a battery architecture compatible with it. This focus on manufacturability addresses a common failure point for many battery technology companies.

The core of Prieto's technology is its reimagined 3D battery architecture, which deviates from the traditional 2D structure of conventional batteries. In standard 2D batteries, ions travel across a flat plane, creating a trade-off between energy density (thicker batteries) and charge speed (thinner batteries). Prieto’s design utilizes a porous copper foam substrate, creating a sponge-like structure with a vast internal surface area. This 3D interdigitated design drastically shortens the diffusion distance for lithium ions, enabling performance characteristics that have been validated by third-party labs. Key performance metrics include the ability to achieve a full charge in three minutes, operate across a wide temperature range of -30°C to +100°C, and inherent safety, as the design is nonflammable and has passed nail penetration tests without thermal runaway. The company states its technology can deliver five times the power density and up to three times the energy density of conventional batteries.

Prieto's business model appears to be centered on strategic partnerships and eventual technology licensing. The company has secured investments from venture capital firms and corporate venture arms, including Pilatus Capital, Intel Capital, and Stanley Ventures, the venture arm of Stanley Black & Decker. These strategic partnerships aim to define markets where the technology holds a competitive advantage, such as electric vehicles, power tools, consumer electronics, and medical devices. A partnership with Hercules Electric Vehicles for electric pickup trucks and marine applications has also been established. The manufacturing process itself is a key asset, relying on a water-based electroplating method at room temperature, which avoids the need for costly clean rooms or specialized equipment and uses non-toxic, sustainable materials. Currently, Prieto is focused on scaling its technology, finalizing plans for a pilot manufacturing facility, and engaging with potential partners for commercialization.