Boulder Ionics

Boulder Ionics Corporation operated as a materials science company focused on developing and manufacturing ionic liquids and advanced electrolytes for the energy storage sector. Founded in 2010 by the serial entrepreneur team of Dr. Jerry Martin, Christine Martin, and Joe Poshusta, the company was established to address key challenges in the commercial adoption of ionic liquids, specifically their price, purity, and production scale. Dr. Martin, a PhD graduate from MIT, brought extensive experience from his previous venture, Mesoscopic Devices, a portable fuel cell developer acquired in 2007. This background in energy systems was directly relevant to Boulder Ionics' mission.

The company's core business was the production of high-purity ionic liquid electrolytes, marketed under the Iolyte brand, designed for use in demanding electrochemical applications. These electrolytes served as safer, higher-performance alternatives to the conventional flammable organic solvents used in energy storage devices. The product's key benefits included being non-flammable, stable across wide temperature ranges, and capable of operating at higher voltages, which enhances energy density and can lower costs. Boulder Ionics developed a proprietary, high-throughput synthesis platform that enabled the manufacturing of these materials at a cost and purity level suitable for industrial volumes, a primary bottleneck that had previously limited their market penetration.

The company targeted manufacturers of advanced energy storage devices, including ultracapacitors, lithium-ion batteries, and next-generation metal-air batteries. Its clients operated in markets such as consumer electronics, automotive, defense, and grid-scale energy storage. Boulder Ionics secured approximately $6 million in funding through several rounds, with notable investments from Pangaea Ventures, JSR Corporation, and various clean energy funds. The company also received nearly $2 million in grants from government bodies like the National Science Foundation and the U.S. military. In October 2014, CoorsTek, a global manufacturer of technical ceramics and an early investor, acquired Boulder Ionics to integrate its chemical synthesis technology. Following the acquisition, Boulder Ionics was renamed CoorsTek Fluorochemicals, with Dr. Martin becoming its president.

Keywords: Boulder Ionics, CoorsTek Fluorochemicals, ionic liquids, electrolytes, energy storage, lithium-ion batteries, ultracapacitors, Jerry Martin, high-throughput synthesis, advanced materials, battery technology, non-flammable electrolyte, electrochemical applications, energy density, CoorsTek acquisition, Pangaea Ventures, specialty fluorochemicals, battery safety, metal-air batteries, cleantech materials