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Promethean Particles

MaterialsNottingham, UKFounded 2013· One of 955 Materials companies tracked by AMPulse

Industrial-scale nanomaterials and MOFs including conductive inks for 3D printing

CEO / Founder
James Stephenson
Team Size
51-200
Stage
Active
Total Funding
$13M
Latest Round
Series A
Key Investors
Aramco Ventures, Mercia Ventures, UK Government, European Innovation Council, TSP Ventures, Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund

Technology & Products

Key Products

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), nanomaterials, conductive inks for 3D printing, materials for carbon capture.

Technological Advantage

Patented hydrothermal process, sustainable water-based synthesis, multi-material capability

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Worlds largest continuous nanomaterials plant enabling new 3D printing applications

How They Differentiate

Industrial scale vs lab quantities, sustainable process, copper ink for RFID (1/20th cost of silver), continuous flow manufacturing process for MOFs.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Electronics manufacturers, Solar cell makers, Environmental tech companies

Industry Verticals

Electronics, Solar, Carbon Capture, Printed Electronics

Competitors

MOF Technologies, NuMat Technologies

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

{"founded": "2007", "investors": "13", "recognition": "WIRED Trailblazer 2025", "series_a_2024": "£8M"}

Major Milestones

2025: WIRED Trailblazer selection; Feb 2025: Experienced CEO appointed chair; Aug 2024: £8M Series A funding; 2016: Relocated to worlds largest continuous multi-material nanoparticle plant; 2007: Founded as University of Nottingham spinout

Notable Customers

Printed electronics industry, Carbon capture facilities, Nanocomposite manufacturers, Catalyst producers, Healthcare sector

Why this company matters

Promethean Particles supplies metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and other nanomaterials at industrial scale, targeting applications in carbon capture, printed electronics, and polymer additive manufacturing. Founded as a University of Nottingham spinout, the company operates what it claims is the world's largest continuous multi-material nanoparticle plant, a facility that distinguishes it from lab-scale producers of MOFs and conductive inks.

The company's core technology is a patented continuous-flow hydrothermal process that enables water-based, sustainable synthesis of nanomaterials. This process supports multi-material production, including copper-based conductive inks for 3D printing that the company says cost roughly one-twentieth that of silver-based alternatives. These inks are aimed at printed electronics applications such as RFID antennas, where lower material cost could enable broader adoption of additive manufacturing in electronics production.

Promethean Particles serves electronics manufacturers, solar cell makers, and environmental technology companies. Its MOF materials are also being piloted for carbon capture, including a pilot project with Drax. The company raised an £8 million Series A round in August 2024 led by Mercia Ventures and Aramco Ventures, with additional backing from the UK government and the European Innovation Council.

The company's primary competitive challenge is scaling adoption of MOFs and conductive inks beyond pilot projects into high-volume production for end markets like automotive tier-1s or aerospace primes. While its continuous manufacturing process offers a cost advantage over batch production, the market for 3D-printable conductive inks remains nascent, and Promethean Particles must demonstrate that its materials can meet the reliability and throughput requirements of industrial electronics manufacturing.