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TAP TIMES -37- JANUARY 2023
Lithium-ion batteries (from 36) Former Theranos COO, president
receives 13-year prison sentence
sized by Jian-Cheng Lai, a postdoctoral
scholar at Stanford University and co-first SAN JOSE — Ramesh “Sunny” Bal-
author on the paper. wani, 51, received a 13-year prison
sentence in federal district court here
Testing the limit in December on fraud charges related
“I just wanted to see how much I could to defunct Theranos, a Palo Alto, Calif.
add and test the limit,” Huang said. Usu- blood diagnostics company.
ally, less than 50% of a polymer-based
electrolyte’s weight is salt. Huang bumped Balwani, while serving as Theranos’ presi-
that number to 63%, creating one of the dent, was also the boyfriend of founder
saltiest polymer-based electrolytes ever. and CEO Elizabeth Holmes. Holmes was
sentenced to prison for 11 years on similar
Unlike other polymer-based electrolytes, charges in November.
this one also contained flammable solvent
molecules. However, the overall electro- Puts the blame on Holmes
lyte, known as Solvent-Anchored non- According to various media reports, Bal-
Flammable Electrolyte (SAFE), proved wani’s lawyers argued that their client
non-flammable at high temperatures dur- was simply acting on decisions made by
ing tests in a lithium-ion battery. Holmes, a Stanford dropout. She was for
several years elevated by the media as the
SAFE works because the solvents and salt female Steve Jobs.
work together. The solvent molecules help
conduct ions, resulting in performance While Judge Edward J. Davila had a sen-
comparable to that of batteries containing tencing range of 11-14 years, the prosecu-
conventional electrolytes. tors argued for 15 years due to his over-
sight role at the company.
No failure at high temps
But, instead of failing at high temperatures March 15, 2023 surrender date
like most lithium-ion batteries, batteries Balwani’s final sentence is 155 months and
containing SAFE continue to operate at three years probation. He was ordered to
temperatures between 77–212 degrees F. report for prison on March 15.
Meanwhile, the ample added salts act as Theranos had convinced investors, many
anchors for the solvent molecules, pre- of them internationally known, that the
venting them from evaporating and catch- company could diagnose a multitude of
ing fire. illnesses from one or two drops of blood
with its “Edison” machine.
“This new finding points out a new way
of thinking for polymer-based electrolyte In fact, Theranos had been sending blood
design,” said Zhenan Bao, a professor at samples to conventional labs for traditional
Stanford University who advises Huang. tests. The company was hobbled after
“This electrolyte is important for devel- several whistleblowers reported the fake
oping future batteries that are both high results. They included ex-employee Tyler
energy density and safe.” Shulz, grandson of investor and former
stanford.edu Secretary of State George Schulz.
