Leaf-Tech Ltd Awarded Innovate UK Funding for SAFE-Na Sodium-Ion Battery Project
Leaf-Tech Ltd is pleased to announce that it has been awarded Innovate UK funding for a collaborative research and development project with Swansea University to advance next-generation sodium-ion battery technology.
The 15-month project, “Safe, High-Energy Sodium-Ion Batteries Using Ultra-Thin Solid-State Gel Polymer Electrolytes (SAFE-Na)”, officially commenced in September 2026 and will run until November 2027.
The project has a total eligible cost of £432,476, supported by £362,554 in Innovate UK grant funding.
Advancing next-generation battery technology
Sodium-ion batteries are attracting increasing interest as an alternative to established lithium-ion technologies, particularly for applications where cost, resource availability and supply-chain resilience are important considerations.
SAFE-Na will explore a new electrolyte and separator approach designed to improve the safety and performance of sodium-ion batteries while supporting future scalable manufacturing. The project will build on Leaf-Tech’s expertise in advanced membrane materials and processing, taking the technology from laboratory-scale development towards more application-relevant validation.
The work will cover material development, membrane fabrication, testing and battery integration, with a focus on establishing a practical pathway towards future scale-up and commercialisation.
Collaboration with Swansea University
The project brings together complementary expertise from Leaf-Tech Ltd and Swansea University.
Leaf-Tech will lead activities relating to membrane fabrication, processing, manufacturability and scale-up, while Swansea University will contribute expertise in polymer materials, electrochemical characterisation and sodium-ion battery testing.
The collaboration builds on an existing relationship between the two organisations and combines academic research capabilities with Leaf-Tech’s experience in membrane engineering and technology development.
Supporting the UK battery innovation ecosystem
SAFE-Na forms part of Leaf-Tech’s broader strategy to extend its advanced membrane technology platform into new applications in energy storage and clean-energy technologies.
Through the project, the partners aim to strengthen UK capabilities in advanced battery materials and components, while developing the knowledge and manufacturing approach required for future commercial applications.
The project will also provide an important opportunity for Leaf-Tech to further develop its technology towards scale-up, industrial validation and potential future partnerships across the battery and energy-storage sectors.
Leaf-Tech is grateful to Innovate UK and Swansea University for their support and collaboration on the project.