Oak Ridge National Laboratory
09/05/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 09/06/2025 08:01
Innovation Crossroads companies join forces, awarded U.S. Air Force contract
The 21-month project aims to strengthen the domestic battery materials supply chain by expanding graphite production
September 5, 2025
Carbon nanotubes, pictured above, are valued for their strength, conductivity and lightweight properties and have versatile applications in electronics, automotive and aerospace. Credit: Carlos Jones/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy
The U.S. Air Force awarded startup SkyNano, led by Innovation Crossroads alumna Anna Douglas, a $1.25 million contract to advance its CO2-to-carbon nanotube technology as part of a project to develop low-cost, battery-grade graphite. SkyNano's partners include American Energy Technologies Company and Eonix, led by Innovation Crossroads alumnus Don DeRosa.
SkyNano and Eonix were recruited to Knoxville through Innovation Crossroads, a Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program node at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
From left, DOE's Christopher Saldaña and ORNL's Susan Hubbard listen to SkyNano's Anna Douglas during the ribbon-cutting event for SkyNano's facility in March 2024. Credit: Carlos Jones/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy
"In addition to accessing world-class technical resources, Innovation Crossroads Fellows are connected with a peer network of early career energy and manufacturing entrepreneurs," said ORNL's Dan Miller. "Both SkyNano and Eonix chose to stay and grow their companies here - a testament to East Tennessee's thriving innovation ecosystem."
"This project not only represents an important step toward building a secure, domestic supply chain for lithium-ion battery materials, but also continued collaboration and growth among Innovation Crossroads Fellows," Douglas said.
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Oak Ridge National Laboratory published this content on September 05, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 06, 2025 at 14:01 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]