SMOOTHING POWER
SCALING ENERGY
Power quality solutions for fluctuating workloads
FAST POWER DELIVERY
SAFETY – NO THERMAL RUNAWAY
Technology
Water-based Zinc battery integrated with polymer technology to deliver power instantly – absorbing power fluctuations with no risk of thermal runaway.
Applications
AI Data Centres
To safely manage fluctuating power demand and provide bridging backup to onsite generation.
Grid
Hybridising with co-located lithium-ion batteries to double renewable project profits.
Commercial and Industrial
Power quality management for commercial and industrial properties.
Management Team
Jane Hunter
Dr Shelley Brown
Prior to Zinc, Shelley worked as the Battery Technology Adviser for bp, before becoming Chief of Staff to the Senior Vice President of Launchpad & Ventures bringing together and leading bp's incubator, growth accelerator (Launchpad) and capabilities in venture capital, technology commercialisation, intellectual asset management and technology insights to create a world-class innovation engine.
Previous experience includes Technology and Business Development Director of Battery Materials at Johnson Matthey plc, Manager in Technology and Innovation at AGL Energy, and CEO of VSPC, a startup scaling novel process technology to manufacture battery materials.
Dr Ed Marshall
Anne Gager
Board of Directors
Michael Alen-Buckley
Jane Hunter
Lord Michael Spencer
Ian Wright
Alex Bamberg
William Heathcote
Dr Shelley Brown
News & Press
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Superdielectrics water-based zinc battery outperforms lithium-ion battery in high-power tests, delivering up to 13x longer cycle life, a quicker charge, with zero thermal runaway risk.
Test results support the development of SuperDielectrics’ rack-level data centre product, which is designed to address the power fluctuation challenges posed by AI workloads.
SuperDielectrics has announced independent test results of its next-generation water-based zinc battery, confirming superior performance across safety, cycle life, and charge and discharge speed in high power applications, compared to both standard and next-generation phosphate-based lithium-ion batteries. The testing was carried out by leading UK defence and security company, QinetiQ.
SuperDielectrics’ core innovation is a unique patented polymer, which has produced breakthrough results when tested against like-for-like standard and next-generation lithium-ion single-layer cells. The results were clear: there was no thermal runaway (a battery fire caused by uncontrollable self-heating), fire, or explosion under abuse conditions.
At 0°C, the results showed that charge performance was ~48x better (20C, which is 3 minutes). At room temperature, the results showed:
- up to 13x longer cycle life under high-power cycling (10 mins charge and discharge, 100% depth of discharge);
- discharge performance was ~10x better (maintained >85% nominal capacity, achieved at 100C, or 36 seconds); and
- charge performance was ~8x better (maintained >70% nominal capacity, achieved at 50C, or 1 minute 12 seconds).
The “twin transitions” of AI-driven computing and clean energy are creating unprecedented demands on power infrastructure. SuperDielectrics’ battery is designed to address these challenges by delivering fast-response power smoothing that manages significant power fluctuations introduced by intermittent renewable energy and high workloads across data centres. SuperDielectrics’ battery will reduce strain on electrical infrastructure, mitigating the risk of blackouts and brownouts, and enabling data centre operators to maintain stable power delivery without resorting to energy-intensive smoothing practices.
While lithium-ion batteries have been optimised for energy density to support long-range electric vehicles and long-duration grid storage, their performance degrades under highly fluctuating operating conditions, often requiring larger battery energy storage infrastructure to manage demand. In contrast, SuperDielectrics’ technology is specifically designed to absorb and respond to these rapid power variations.
Moreover, while lithium-ion batteries are well-suited to perform longer-duration storage and backup functions, they are ideally located outside data centres and at safe distances from critical infrastructure and residential areas. In contrast, SuperDielectrics’ batteries are being designed to provide a power-smoothing layer, co-located with data centre racks and other mission-critical equipment, with zero risk of thermal runaway.
These independent test results provide a strong foundation for SuperDielectrics as it enters its next phase of growth, focused on securing strategic customer partnerships and building its Faraday 3 battery for the company’s first deployment under commercial conditions early next year.
Jane Hunter, CEO, SuperDielectrics, said: “SuperDielectrics has a UK-designed, globally scalable technology for a future rack-level and grid-scale power buffering solution, enabling safer, lower-cost and higher-density AI compute infrastructure and grid stabilisation capability compared to lithium-ion. This strengthens UK leadership in critical enabling technologies. Where lithium-ion is reaching its performance limits, adding SuperDielectrics batteries can enable our customers to deliver the same power with a fraction of the energy footprint – safer, smaller, and at significantly lower cost.”
Shelley Brown, CTO, SuperDielectrics, said: “These results provide independent benchmarking of the technology at the heart of our batteries: a proprietary polymer separator that combines rapid ion transport with the safety advantages of an aqueous electrolyte system. The outcome is an energy storage solution purpose-built for high-power, fast-cycling applications, offering an alternative to lithium-ion systems that typically rely on extensive oversizing and additional safety infrastructure to manage demanding power profiles.”
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Superdielectrics has launched its next generation aqueous polymer battery, marking a significant technological upgrade. Introducing the Faraday 2.
This launch marks a major milestone in the company’s mission to revolutionise energy storage with a safer, more sustainable, and cost-effective alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries. The Faraday 2 builds on the success of the Faraday 1 prototype, being a major step towards the offering of a fridge-sized residential energy storage unit capable of reducing household electricity bills by 85% or more.
Developed from advances in contact lens polymers, Superdielectrics’ internationally patented technology uses abundant, non-toxic materials and contains no critical or rare earth metals. With a full charge time of just 30 minutes, significantly faster than a traditional battery, the Faraday 2 is designed to store surplus renewable energy efficiently, enabling flexible tariffs and greater energy independence for homes. This innovation addresses the growing need for scalable energy storage across Europe’s rapidly expanding renewable energy sector, and also offers a transformative solution to lower electricity costs, enhancing energy security.
Key advantages of the Faraday 2 include:
- Safe: Unlike lithium-ion batteries, approximately 50% of the technology is water-based, eliminating the risk of thermal runaway which is a fire-safety hazard.
- Low cost: The technology does not rely on critical metals making its materials cheaper than lithium-ion batteries with securer supply chains.
- Sustainability: Built with readily available, materials that are easily recyclable.
- Long lifecycle: Potential for even longer use than existing batteries.
- Energy density potential: Currently outperforming lead-acid batteries and with ongoing R&D efforts to surpass currently available lithium-ion energy storage capacity in the future.
Jim Heathcote, CEO of Superdielectrics, commented:
“The launch of Faraday 2 is a major step towards a low cost and clean energy future, as well as a key milestone for us as we work towards a commercial product. As the world shifts towards renewable energy, storage is the technological bottleneck. Our technology is low cost, safe and recyclable, helping the world in the global transition to sustainable energy.”
Julian Lennertz, Chief Commercial Officer at E.ON Next, commented:
“The transition to cleaner energy is about making that energy more affordable and sustainable, and our partnership with Superdielectrics is one of a huge number of ways we are working to help customers take control of their energy by making energy storage widely available. We are delighted to be a part of the Superdielectrics journey, sharing insight into how millions of customers use energy and what they need to benefit from a smarter energy system. The launch of Faraday 2 is an important milestone in the evolution of battery design using readily available materials – and is yet another world-leading innovation designed and developed in the UK.”
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The sustainable electrical energy storage specialist secures Suite 2 in the Science Village
Cambridge, UK, 15 February 2021: Chesterford Research Park is delighted to welcome material research company Superdielectrics to the Park’s prestigious Science Village.
Superdielectrics is developing high energy density, low cost, low environmental impact electrical energy storage devices that will help create a clean and sustainable global energy and transportation system. Supercapacitors store energy using electrodes and electrolytes and both charge and deliver energy quickly, unlike conventional batteries which perform the same task in a much slower way with the added hazard of end-of-life waste. Superdielectrics’ supercapacitors are safe, fast, contain no rare materials or conflict metals and have the added benefit of reducing pollution and waste.
Superdielectrics join fellow Science Village occupiers including Diagnostics for the Real World, Camena Bioscience and Oxford Nanopore in this energy-efficient, high-quality building, so stimulating company is guaranteed.
Jim Heathcote, CEO, Superdielectrics said: “Superdielectrics Ltd is delighted to have taken research and development laboratories at Chesterford Research Park. We are developing a completely clean and sustainable energy system using our unique high energy density supercapacitor materials.
“We are driven by strong environmental and social values which are shared by Chesterford Research Park. These are exciting times as we strive to tackle fundamental scientific problems that could reduce global poverty and starvation while cleaning up the environment.”
Chesterford Research Park provides an innovative and future-proofed environment for both established and early-stage biotechnology and pharmaceutical research and development companies. In addition to Superdielectrics, the Park is home to technology and life science innovators including Arecor, AstraZeneca, Lonza, Charles River Laboratories, Cambridge Epigenetix, Domainex and Oncologica.
Julian Cobourne, Senior Asset Manager, Aviva Investors, joint owners of Chesterford Research Park with Uttlesford District Council added: “I am thrilled that the innovative team at Superdielectrics will be continuing their ground-breaking work at Chesterford Research Park. With its focus on sustainability and the environment, Superdielectrics’ aims are complementary to that of the Park.
“Integral to the Cambridge biotech cluster, Chesterford Research Park continues to attract leading bioscience ventures. The fitted nature of the Science Village remains extremely popular with companies seeking ‘plug and play’ facilities, which negates the requirement for a protracted and sometimes expensive fit-out process. Superdielectrics are in good company in this truly unique setting with stunning natural parkland surroundings.”
Careers
Embracing Diversity & Innovation
We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex,
national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, or gender identity –
because we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation.
Current vacancies
We are seeking a Development Scale-up Engineer to lead the transition from laboratory development into pilot-scale manufacture.
Direct reports: Individual Contributor
SuperDielectrics (SD) is pioneering a breakthrough battery technology designed for the high-power markets of the future, supporting the global shift to electrification. Our water-based batteries deliver market-leading performance through a novel polymer separator, combined with zinc halide electroactive species and carbon-based porous electrodes.
To accelerate commercialisation, SD operates a fully integrated product development model – from advanced materials through to cells, modules and packs – underpinned by in-house battery management systems.
Our lead polymer separator technology has reached the point where it is ready to transition from laboratory development into pilot-scale manufacture. As the Development Scale-up Engineer, you will lead that transition, taking ownership of process development, industrialisation, technology transfer and manufacturing readiness. Working alongside the Polymer Application Scientist, who will continue to develop the next generation of separator technologies to meet evolving product and customer requirements, you will establish a robust manufacturing platform that delivers today’s products while remaining flexible enough to adopt future material innovations as they are introduced.
You will work within the Product team, collaborating closely across engineering, application testing and commercial functions to translate innovation into deliverable products.
This is a rare opportunity to join a high-growth, entrepreneurial business at a pivotal stage. While experience in battery technologies is advantageous, we actively welcome candidates from adjacent fields – bringing fresh perspectives to complex engineering challenges. In return, we offer a world-class environment to develop deep expertise in next-generation energy storage.
Key responsibilities
- Accountable for designing, developing and executing separator manufacturing processes from laboratory through pilot scale, working at pace with internal and external collaborators to increase manufacturing readiness.
- Accountable for establishing a robust, scalable manufacturing platform capable of supporting commercial production while accommodating future separator technology developments.
- Responsible for identifying and implementing improvements to process capability, yield, throughput, quality, reproducibility and manufacturing robustness.
- Responsible for embedding manufacturing processes into routine operation through validation, standardisation, technology transfer and continuous improvement.
- Responsible for developing a deep understanding of how separator composition, material properties and processing parameters influence manufacturability, process capability and product quality.
- Support the scale-up and industrialisation of wider battery manufacturing processes as products progress towards commercialisation.
- Work closely with the Polymer Application Scientist to transfer new separator technologies into manufacturing, ensuring future material innovations can be adopted efficiently while maintaining manufacturing performance and product quality.
- Coordinate across engineering, electrochemistry, materials science and product teams to ensure manufacturing processes consistently deliver separators that meet product specifications, customer requirements and commercial manufacturing objectives.
- Interact closely with the Head of Product to align manufacturing development with product strategy, commercial priorities and the wider technology roadmap.
- Champion safety, effective training and adherence to SD safety rules and best practices.
Are you the ideal candidate?
You will have/be:
- PhD (preferred) or MSc in Chemical Engineering, Polymer Engineering, Materials Science or a related discipline, or equivalent industrial experience.
- Demonstrated experience scaling polymer processing technologies such as membranes, hydrogels, coatings, filtration media, biomaterials or medical devices.
- Proven experience developing manufacturing processes and increasing manufacturing readiness from laboratory development through pilot-scale production and technology transfer.
- Demonstrable expertise in process optimisation, validation, process capability and manufacturing robustness within a manufacturing or process development environment.
- Experience applying Design of Experiments (DoE), statistical analysis and data-driven approaches to optimise manufacturing processes.
- Experience with hydrogel processing would be advantageous.
- Knowledge of battery manufacturing, separator technologies or electrochemical manufacturing would be advantageous.
- Commercial awareness, with an appreciation of technology transfer, manufacturing readiness, product development and continuous improvement.
- Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across product, engineering and manufacturing teams.
- Strong technical writing skills for process documentation, manufacturing specifications, validation reports, standard operating procedures and intellectual property generation.
- An uncompromising approach to Health and Safety.
- Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.
How to apply:
If you have the necessary skills and experience to join our team, please apply online via the application form below or by emailing your cv and a letter of application to recruitment@superdielectrics.com.
Closing date for applications: 21 August 2026
Apply for this Role
We are seeking a Polymer Application Scientist to lead the design, synthesis and characterisation of separator materials that underpin the performance of our next-generation battery products.
Direct reports: Individual Contributor
SuperDielectrics (SD) is pioneering a breakthrough battery technology designed for the high-power markets of the future, supporting the global shift to electrification. Our water-based batteries deliver market-leading performance through a novel polymer separator, combined with zinc halide electroactive species and carbon-based porous electrodes.
To accelerate commercialisation, SD operates a fully integrated product development model – from advanced materials through to cells, modules and packs – underpinned by in-house battery management systems.
Our technology is built around the polymer separator and, as the Polymer Application Scientist, you will lead the design, synthesis and characterisation of separator materials that underpin the performance of our next-generation battery products. Working from customer and application requirements, you will develop innovative polymer technologies that improve battery performance, reliability and lifetime across targeted markets. As the technical owner of separator materials and their application performance, you will translate polymer science into commercially viable products, ensuring new materials meet customer expectations while working in close partnership with the Development Scale-up Engineer, who leads the industrialisation and manufacturing scale-up of those technologies.
You will work within the Product team, collaborating closely across engineering, application testing and commercial functions to translate innovation into deliverable products.
This is a rare opportunity to join a high-growth, entrepreneurial business at a pivotal stage. While experience in battery technologies is advantageous, we actively welcome candidates from adjacent fields – bringing fresh perspectives to complex engineering challenges. In return, we offer a world-class environment to develop deep expertise in next-generation energy storage.
Key responsibilities
- Accountable for the design, synthesis and optimisation of current and next-generation polymer separator materials that deliver differentiated battery performance for customer applications.
- Accountable for translating customer, application and product requirements into scalable polymer chemistries suitable for commercial manufacture.
- Responsible for driving innovation in separator composition, structure and functionality to improve battery performance, reliability, durability and customer value.
- Responsible for developing and continuously improving polymer and separator characterisation methodologies that enable prediction of product performance, quality and long-term reliability.
- Work with electrochemists, materials scientists, application engineers and product teams to establish the relationships between polymer chemistry, separator structure, electrochemical behaviour and end-use battery performance.
- Investigate polymer degradation mechanisms during battery cycling to improve product lifetime, robustness and application-specific performance.
- Work closely with the Development Scale-up Engineer to ensure new separator materials can be successfully transferred into robust manufacturing processes, providing materials leadership while supporting process industrialisation.
- Support product development by defining critical material properties, application-relevant performance metrics and technical specifications for separator technologies throughout the product lifecycle.
- Coordinate cross-functional activities to ensure separator development aligns with customer requirements, product roadmaps, validation activities and future technology platforms.
- Interact closely with the Head of Product to align polymer innovation with customer needs, commercial priorities and the wider technology roadmap.
- Champion safety, effective training and adherence to SD safety rules and best practices.
Are you the ideal candidate?
You will have/be:
- PhD (preferred) or MSc in Polymer Science, Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science or a related discipline, or equivalent industrial experience.
- Demonstrated experience developing advanced polymeric materials such as membranes, hydrogels, biomaterials, functional coatings or related technologies.
- Proven expertise in polymer synthesis, formulation and characterisation.
- A strong understanding of how material properties influence product performance and customer applications.
- Experience supporting manufacturing scale-up or technology transfer would be advantageous.
- Practical experience of rheological analysis would be advantageous.
- Knowledge of battery materials, separator technologies or electrochemical systems would be advantageous.
- Commercial awareness, with an appreciation of product development, intellectual property strategy and customer requirements.
- Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to influence technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Strong technical writing skills for reports, patents, technical specifications and manufacturing documentation.
- An uncompromising approach to Health and Safety.
- Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.
How to apply:
If you have the necessary skills and experience to join our team, please apply online via the application form below or by emailing your cv and a letter of application to recruitment@superdielectrics.com.
Closing date for applications: 21 August 2026
Apply for this Role
We are seeking one Graduate Scientist and one Graduate Engineer to join our Graduate Development Programme.
Direct reports: Individual Contributor
Do you enjoy solving practical scientific and engineering challenges with precision and attention to detail? Are you excited by the opportunity to help bring breakthrough battery technology from the laboratory to commercial reality in a collaborative, fast-moving environment?
SuperDielectrics (SD) is seeking one Graduate Scientist and one Graduate Engineer to join our Graduate Development Programme. These are exciting opportunities for graduates who are keen to apply their knowledge in a hands-on, multidisciplinary environment while contributing to the commercialisation of a genuinely novel battery technology.
From your first day, you will work alongside experienced scientists and engineers on real technical challenges. Through a structured programme of rotational placements across our product development teams, you will gain hands-on experience across the battery product lifecycle while developing a broad understanding of our technology, products and ways of working.
SD is pioneering a breakthrough battery platform designed for the high-power markets of the future, supporting the global transition to electrification. Our water-based batteries deliver market-leading performance through a novel polymer separator, combined with zinc halide electroactive species and carbon-based porous electrodes.
To accelerate commercialisation, SD operates a fully integrated product development model – from advanced materials through to cells, modules and packs – underpinned by in-house battery management systems. This integrated approach provides graduates with a unique opportunity to gain experience across multiple scientific and engineering disciplines within a single organisation.
Graduate Scientist
As a Graduate Scientist, you will work closely with our product and application teams, helping to develop, characterise and evaluate the core technologies that underpin our batteries. Your work will include:
- Preparing materials for electrochemical cells.
- Assembling laboratory-scale cells and prototypes.
- Conducting electrochemical testing and performance characterisation.
- Analysing experimental data to understand material and cell performance.
- Supporting experimental design and continuous improvement of laboratory methods.
- Maintaining high standards of quality, accuracy and technical documentation.
This role is ideal for graduates who enjoy laboratory-based research, experimental science and applying scientific understanding to practical technology challenges.
Graduate Engineer
As a Graduate Engineer, you will work across engineering, product integration and manufacturing activities focused on transforming innovative product concepts into commercially viable battery systems. Your work will include:
- Mechanical design and engineering of battery components and fixtures.
- Cell, module and battery pack assembly.
- Prototype build, testing and evaluation.
- Supporting process development and scale-up activities.
- Identifying opportunities to improve manufacturing, assembly and product performance.
This role is suited to graduates who enjoy practical engineering, product design and developing robust processes that enable new technologies to move towards manufacture.
Our Graduate Development Programme
Regardless of whether you join as a Graduate Scientist or Graduate Engineer, you will complete rotations across several product development teams. Each rotation will provide the opportunity to build technical depth while gaining exposure to complementary disciplines and different stages of our product lifecycle, including:
- Advanced materials preparation and polymer membrane manufacture.
- Electrochemical cell design, assembly and testing.
- Mechanical design, module and pack integration.
- Process development and manufacturing methods.
- Battery modelling, data analysis and performance evaluation.
You will work with experts from a range of scientific and engineering disciplines, building technical capability while developing the commercial awareness, problem-solving skills and collaborative mindset needed to succeed in a high-growth technology company.
Reporting to the Head of Technical Operations, you will become an integral member of our multidisciplinary technology team, contributing directly to the advancement and commercialisation of our technology.
Who We’re Looking For
Curious, practical graduates who enjoy solving real-world engineering and scientific problems. You should be enthusiastic about learning, comfortable working in a hands-on environment and motivated by the opportunity to help develop new technologies.
You will ideally have:
- A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (or be expecting one) in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics or a related STEM discipline.
- Practical experience gained through university projects, placements, internships or laboratory work.
- Strong experimental, analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent attention to detail and a methodical approach to your work.
- Confidence working independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience using Microsoft Office applications (particularly Excel) for data recording and analysis. Experience coding in Python, or equivalent programming languages, will be viewed as advantageous.
Experience with polymer chemistry, electrochemistry, battery technology, CAD, machine tools or laboratory quality systems is advantageous but not essential. We are looking for graduates with curiosity, initiative and the capability to learn.
Why Join SD?
This is an exciting opportunity to join SD at a pivotal stage in our growth. As we move towards commercialisation, you will help solve real engineering and scientific challenges while working alongside experts in polymer chemistry, battery materials, electrochemistry, electronics and product engineering.
Unlike many graduate schemes, you will contribute to meaningful technical work from the outset, gaining broad cross-disciplinary experience and taking part in the development of a technology that could help shape the future of sustainable energy storage.
How to apply:
If you have the necessary skills and experience to join our team, please apply online via the application form below or by emailing your cv and a letter of application to recruitment@superdielectrics.com.
Closing date for applications: 16 August 2026
Apply for this Role
Contact Us
info@superdielectrics.com
Address
Superdielectrics Group Plc
Chesterford Research Park,
Little Chesterford,
Cambridge
CB10 1XL
Company registration number: 13631590
VAT number: 193 650 979
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