Cerion Nanomaterials

About

Cerion Nanomaterials, LLC (formerly Cerion Technologies), founded in 2007 and based in Rochester, New York, manufactures engineered nanoparticle dispersions for advanced materials applications across diverse industries. With over $30 million in funding and 10-50 employees, Cerion has developed proprietary synthesis technologies enabling precise control over nanoparticle composition, size, and surface chemistry—critical parameters determining nanomaterial performance. The company focuses particularly on metal oxide nanoparticles including cerium oxide (CeO2), which has found applications in fuel additives, polishing compounds, coatings, and catalysis. Cerion's cerium oxide nanoparticles exhibit unique catalytic properties arising from their nanoscale dimensions and surface chemistry, functioning as oxygen buffers that can alternate between oxidation states. These properties make nano-ceria valuable in applications including diesel fuel additives where they promote more complete combustion and reduce particulate emissions, automotive catalytic converters where they enhance pollutant oxidation, and fuel cells where they improve oxygen ion conductivity. The company has developed cost-effective synthesis methods producing stable, well-dispersed nanoparticle suspensions that can be easily integrated into customer formulations and manufacturing processes. Cerion's technology platform extends beyond cerium oxide to other metal oxides including zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, and mixed-metal oxides, each tailored for specific applications. The company provides customized nanoparticle dispersions matching customer requirements for particle size, surface functionalization, dispersion medium, and concentration. Cerion's chemical synthesis routes enable composition control impossible with physical synthesis methods, allowing atomic-level engineering of multifunctional nanoparticles. The company serves diverse markets including energy, automotive, electronics, coatings, and personal care, providing both standard catalog products and custom synthesis services. Cerion maintains quality control systems ensuring batch-to-batch consistency critical for commercial applications, with comprehensive characterization using transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and surface analysis techniques. The company has navigated complex regulatory landscapes for nanomaterial applications, obtaining necessary approvals for fuel additive and other applications involving human or environmental exposure. Cerion's business model combines material sales with contract synthesis services, leveraging its nanoparticle engineering expertise to develop tailored solutions for customer challenges. The company has established partnerships with larger chemical companies and product manufacturers seeking nanomaterial expertise without developing internal capabilities. Cerion represents the important class of nanotechnology companies focused on enabling technologies—providing engineered building blocks that other companies incorporate into their products rather than developing end-user products directly. As nanotechnology permeates diverse industries, specialized nanomaterial synthesizers like Cerion play crucial roles in supplying precisely engineered materials that enable performance improvements across applications from catalysis to energy storage, demonstrating how advanced synthesis capabilities translate into commercial value.