Bright Minds: Bold ideas. Smart materials.

Which ideas and visions do researchers bring to life - and how do they do it? At Empa - the place where innovation starts - more than 1,000 scientists, engineers and technicians contribute with their expertise every day to develop new paths to a sustainable, livable future. Meet the bright minds at Empa's laboratories in this video and livestream series and learn about their solutions that are crucial to tackling the many challenges of our times.

Livestream Mining the Atmosphere
25 April 13.30-14.00 PM

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Abdessalem Aribia

Co-Founder of BTRY and PhD student at Empa

After completing his Master's degree in chemistry at ETH Zurich, Abdessalem Aribia is currently completing his PhD at Empa's "Thin Films and Photovoltaics Lab". In April 2023, he founded the Empa spin-off "BTRY" together with Moritz Futscher. BTRY was funded by Innosuisse and made it into the "Business Incubator" of the European Space Agency (ESA). In addition, Abdessalem Aribia received an "Empa Entrepreneur Fellowship", which supports young researchers for one year in founding a company.

New generation of battery technology

Abdessalem Aribia is working with "BTRY" co-founder Moritz Futscher on new thin-film solid-state batteries that are expected to revolutionize the battery market. The two Empa researchers are developing a new battery at Empa's Coating Competence Center (CCC) that is

more reliable
safer
more sustainable than conventional lithium-ion batteries

BTRY's new battery technology makes rechargeable batteries last longer. These batteries can also be produced in a more environmentally friendly way and can be fully charged in just one minute. Currently, the two founders are focusing on making their battery prototypes larger and more powerful, and to show potential investors that they are worth investing in.

The highlight

Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere: from smartphones and laptops to cars and event satellites. It is currently our most mature battery technology. The demand for rechargeable batteries is enormous. But because they are flammable, they are also considered hazardous materials.

With a new thin-film solid-state battery, BTRY is advancing an existing technology, making rechargeable batteries safer - no risk of starting a fire or releasing toxic gases! The new rechargeable batteries can even be cut in two - to simply create two batteries that are half as good.