MagLib fast-charging wins at RSC awards

Pioneered by Thomas Heenan of UCL, MagLib is said to use bespoke magnetic fields to enhance the performance of lithium-ion batteries for applications from smart-watches and mobile phones towards electric vehicles. Testing has demonstrated charging time reductions of up to 67 per cent.

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The ninth edition of the competition’s final witnessed 24 finalists pitching to judges from companies and organisations including AstraZeneca, PepsiCo and Unilever. Each winner is awarded £20,000 prize money, plus 12 months’ one-on-one support from a specially assigned Royal Society of Chemistry mentor, and a further £20,000 as an unconditional business acceleration grant.

“This win will accelerate our transition out of the university environment into industry, and the funds will enable us to embark on partner projects including prototypes and pilot lines,” Heenan said in a statement. “The recognition from the Royal Society of Chemistry will be a key enabler in attracting additional funding and getting up and running with the partnerships that we want to establish.”