Cell Materials

CarbonIP (CIP) is a technology company transforming renewable forestry by-products into bio-based carbon products. CIP’s focus is developing lignin-based hard carbon (HC) and lignin based activated carbon (AC) to be utilized as a sustainable alternative to traditional graphite in the anodes of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and specialized activated carbon suitable for use as electrodes in supercapacitors. Renewable bio-based hard carbon, made from lignin, can augment the supply chain for mined graphite and/or synthetic graphite and create a more robust domestic supply of this critical battery component. 

Our research, and early-stage production, has shown that renewable HC and AC, made from lignin, has equivalent, or better electrical properties than existing mined or manufactured (natural or synthetic) graphite supplies. 

As our process configurations solidify, and our commercialization pathway unfolds, CIP requires an experienced technician to help expedite carbon testing and production through the production and testing of lithium-ion half-cells and supercapacitors, using our propriety carbons. 

The successful candidate will work at CIP’s facilities within our contract research organization's location, InnoTech Alberta. This person will report directly to the Chief InnoTech R&D scientist in this area and will be responsible for assembling battery cells and supercapacitors containing CIP’s materials and testing the performance of the cells and the raw carbon materials. 

Responsibilities include: 

• Preparing electrodes 
• Blending slurries  
• Coating, compressing, and preparing electrodes for coin cell and pouch cell construction 
• Building and testing coin cells to evaluate material performance 
• Using a variety of equipment for assembling battery components 
• Using semi-automated equipment for assembling batteries 
• Organizing of battery materials and work in process 
• Measuring and recording in-process battery assembly related quality information 
• Documentation of cell making procedures 
• Documentation of cell building records 
• Measuring properties of the carbons using equipment and techniques such as ion-adsorption capability, Electrical resistivity, carbon and impurity analyses, morphological analyses, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) for capacity (capacitance) and recyclability 
• Preparing carbon samples for deployment to external labs and potential customers 
• Assisting with the processing of raw materials and production of carbons using high temperature furnaces and various pieces of processing equipment. 
• Other duties as assigned 

You are: 

• Experienced with battery cell and/or supercapacitor cell production 
• Experienced working with small items with a predisposition towards manual dexterity 
• Highly motivated and a self-starter who takes initiative 
• Well organized and super attentive to the details 
• Always open to learning new things and bringing forward ideas of how do improve what we do and how we do it 
• Comfortable working in a collaborative team environment 

Additional preferred qualifications: 

• Experience working in a manufacturing and/or a lab environment 
• Experience maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing pilot plant level and lab equipment 
• A chemistry, or chemical engineering background or other relevant education related to battery technology. 

CIP offers a competitive salary and relocation assistance. The successful candidate will function as a contractor to CIP and operate out of InnoTech Alberta’s Vegreville, Alberta location with access to state-of-the-art laboratory and pilot plant facilities.