Lithium Australia is taking yet another step in its goal towards becoming possibly the only company to capture the entire lithium value chain, from in-ground resources, to the manufacturing of lithium batteries.
The company has now reached in principle agreement with a battery researcher for the development of advanced “silicon anodes” that could significantly increase the energy density of lithium-ion batteries.
Whilst the use of silicon to improve battery performance is not new, using it in the quantities needed to improve performance while maintaining reliability and longevity has so far proved problematic.
However, previously tested prototypes of the new anode materials indicate the potential to significantly increase the energy density of lithium batteries and Lithium Australia said the agreement involves the implementation of a four-stage development and commercialisation program.
As part of this program, the Perth based company plans to establish facilities for the development of the new graphite/silicon anodes at its VSPC plant in Brisbane.
Operations will begin under the terms of a memorandum of understanding.
Managing Director Adrian Griffin said: “The development of advanced anode materials is an opportunity to significantly increase battery performance, with subsequent environmental benefits. This new arrangement – the perfect adjunct to our existing cathode technology – will target higher-performance products with a more sustainable production profile.”
“Successful implementation of higher-capacity anodes and better battery management systems will result in improved LIB performance.”
Lithium Australia has successfully tested its patented “SiLeach” lithium processing technology, which is a proprietary chemical process that is able to extract lithium from lower grade ore without the need for expensive, energy hungry roasting.
In addition, its VSPC plant commenced producing samples of lithium-ion phosphate cathode powders in September for testing by Chinese battery manufacturers.
VSPC is able to produce a wide range of cathode powders down to a microscopic size after many years of research and development.
Lithium Australia said it is able to control individual particle sizing and the precision of the metallic particle chemistry to improve the overall product quality.
This also allows its cathode technology to be used for a broad and diverse range of applications including uses as a catalyst in the automotive and minerals processing industries, as a component of solar photovoltaic and fuel-cell electrodes, in electronic displays and in other high-end, energy efficient applications.
With the lithium-ion battery market hotting up now, Lithium Australia has its ears laid back and appears to have leap-frogged the pack when it comes to the technology race.
When the rubber hits the road in the lithium battery technology space and the market starts to fully appreciate the lucrative nature of both upstream and downstream lithium opportunities, Lithium Australia will be so far ahead that only its heels will be visible in the dust.
By Matt Birney
