Optimal Products / Technology commercialization
We develop, validate and commercialize advanced materials, energy and environmental technologies through customer discovery, independent testing and strategic licensing partnerships.
FEATURED COMMERCIALIZATION PROGRAM
Cross-Linked PVDF for High-Expansion Battery Electrodes
A patent-pending binder platform developed at the University of South Carolina and being evaluated for applications where electrode swelling, cracking and mechanical degradation limit performance.
+45%
Published increase in tensile strength
-52%
Published reduction in electrolyte swelling
200+ Li-S cycles
Published high-loading lithium-sulfur cycling demonstration
Wet-slurry compatible
Designed around familiar PVDF/NMP electrode-processing workflows
Current focus: customer-defined pouch-cell validation and commercialization pathways.
Published university research results — not commercial specifications.
02 / Our approach
A disciplined path from discovery to adoption.
01 / DISCOVER
Identify real customer problems, use cases, adoption barriers and decision criteria through structured customer discovery.
02 / VALIDATE
Define decision-relevant test protocols and generate credible technical evidence through university, internal and independent testing.
03 / DE-RISK
Evaluate manufacturability, economics, qualification requirements, switching costs and the evidence required for adoption.
04 / PARTNER
Work with established manufacturers, strategic partners and licensees to scale and commercialize validated technologies.
Our goal is not simply to prove that a technology works. It is to retire the risks that prevent customers from adopting it.
03 / TECHNOLOGY PORTFOLIO
Technology Platforms
A focused portfolio spanning power generation, power storage, and environmental systems.
We develop technologies intended to improve how energy is generated, stored and used, while reducing environmental impact through practical, commercially deployable systems.
POWER GENERATION
Power Generation
Technologies designed to capture and convert energy from multiple sources, including sunlight, heat and waste energy. Our concepts include PEGS and energy-producing structural systems that integrate photovoltaic, thermoelectric and thermal-recovery approaches into practical infrastructure.
POWER STORAGE
Power Storage
A portfolio of technologies intended to improve established battery systems rather than rely on a single chemistry. Current development includes enhancements for lead-acid, lithium-ion, sodium-ion and nickel-iron batteries, with a focus on performance, durability, charging, thermal management and practical manufacturability.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES
CleanER Air & Water
Environmental technologies focused on cleaner air and more efficient water treatment. CleanER Air has undergone independent testing across multiple vehicle-emissions metrics, while our water technologies are being developed for efficient purification, treatment and conversion applications.
04 / Evidence & validation
Evidence before assertion.
We believe technologies should earn their way to market. Customer discovery defines what matters. Testing determines whether the technology can deliver it. Manufacturing, economics and qualification requirements determine whether adoption makes sense.
01 / Research
Published Research
University-generated experimental evidence
02 / Testing
Third-party validation where appropriate
03 / Customer proof
Customer-Defined Proof
Validation built around the evidence customers actually need
04 / Economics
Economic Fit
Performance improvement must justify process, qualification and switching costs
Performance claims are identified as published, independently tested, modeled or developmental as appropriate.
05 / Partner with us
Technology moves faster with the right partners.
We work with researchers, testing organizations, manufacturers, strategic partners and prospective licensees to evaluate, validate and commercialize new technologies.
We are particularly interested in conversations with organizations that can help define adoption requirements, validate performance, scale manufacturing or commercialize technology through licensing.
06 / About Optimal Products
Connecting technical possibility with market reality.
Optimal Products develops and commercializes technologies by combining invention, customer discovery, technical validation and strategic partnerships. Rather than building large manufacturing operations ourselves, we focus on identifying valuable technologies, reducing technical and commercial adoption risk, and partnering with established organizations for scale, manufacturing and licensing.
Based in South Carolina. Working across advanced materials, energy, environmental technologies and engineered systems.
Leadership
Optimal Products combines multidisciplinary invention with disciplined commercialization, customer discovery, validation and strategic partnership development.
JC
Joseph W. “Joey” Carpenter
Co-Founder | Lead Inventor | Systems Architect
Joey Carpenter is a multidisciplinary inventor and systems architect with more than 25 years of experience across energy, water, thermal systems, cybersecurity, cloud computing, advanced materials and complex technical systems. As Co-Founder and Lead Inventor of Optimal Products, he has developed more than 50 invention concepts and technology platforms.
His experience includes enterprise-scale cybersecurity, cloud transformation, data-center modernization, governance and critical infrastructure. His approach combines hands-on engineering, systems integration and multidisciplinary problem solving. Joey participates in the 2026 SC NEXUS eiX Venture Studio, working alongside Brian Albers to evaluate and commercialize emerging technologies, including the University of South Carolina cross-linked PVDF battery-binder opportunity.
BA
Brian Albers
Co-Founder | Commercialization & Business Strategy
Brian Albers is an entrepreneur, business operator and Co-Founder of Optimal Products. He leads commercialization strategy, market evaluation, intellectual-property strategy, validation planning, strategic partnerships, funding and engagement with prospective licensees and industry partners across energy, advanced materials and environmental systems.
Brian participates in the 2026 SC NEXUS eiX Venture Studio, working with Joey Carpenter and a University of South Carolina team on commercialization of a cross-linked PVDF battery-binder technology. He leads customer discovery and market validation across the battery ecosystem, examining adoption requirements and qualification, manufacturing, economic and supply-chain hurdles. His broader background includes real estate and financial investments and planning, property management, organizational leadership and community service.