Licube pitched fusion fuel technology at TechCrunch Disrupt
Licube, a startup that purifies lithium-6 for fusion fuel breeding systems, was named one of 20 companies in Disrupt's Startup Battlefield.
Licube has been named one of 20 startups presenting onstage at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco, where it will compete in the Startup Battlefield pitch competition, according to TechCrunch.
The company works on purifying lithium-6 from naturally occurring lithium, technology it has licensed from Hirosaki University in Japan. Its core system is an electrolyzer that drives lithium-6 across a ceramic membrane using electrical current. Licube says it aims to enrich lithium to at least 99.995% lithium-6 for use in fusion fuel breeding systems.
Licube plans to apply the same lithium purification technology in the semiconductor, pharmaceutical, fission reactor and spacecraft industries while fusion remains a smaller market.
Founder's path to fusion
Co-founder and CEO Yohei Kiguchi previously retired from Enechange, an energy-switching platform network in Japan, and has said he was inspired to start Licube after visiting ITER, the experimental fusion reactor in southern France. He has stated that if fusion comes online, it should be a $50 billion market by 2040.
Quick answers
What does Licube do?
It purifies lithium-6 from naturally occurring lithium, targeting enrichment to at least 99.995% lithium-6 for fusion fuel breeding systems, with near-term applications in semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, fission reactors and spacecraft.
Where is Licube presenting?
It is one of 20 startups presenting onstage at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco in the Startup Battlefield pitch competition.
Where does Licube's technology come from?
The company licensed its lithium-6 purification technology from Hirosaki University in Japan.