Successfully Produces LFP Cathode Material
Lithium Australia (ASX:LIT) is confident it is on target to producehigh-performance battery cells utilising lithium recovered from mine waste and spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs).
The company’s wholly-owned subsidiary VSPC Ltd is evaluating low-cost raw-material options for the manufacture of lithium ferro phosphate (LFP) cathode material using its proprietary reduced-cost process.
It has successfully produced LFP material to be used to create battery cells for subsequent electrochemical testing. That testing has revealed that the cells achieved capacities of up to 161 milliampere hours per gram (mAh/g) at a 0.1C discharge rate, which is equivalent to or exceeds that of the best LFP cathode materials currently on the market.
Lithium Australia Managing Director, Adrian Griffin, said test results for all the cell samples VSPC produced using low-cost materials were excellent, exceeding the capacity specifications of commercial cell manufacturers, which is generally 158 mAh/g.
- The LFP produced by VSPC from LP recovered from MMD (spent LIBs) achieved a capacity of 159 mAh/g.
- The LFP produced by VSPC from LP recovered through application of the company’s proprietary LieNA process to fine or low-grade spodumene discarded during the production of commercial lithium concentrates achieved a capacity of 161 mAh/g.
- The LFP produced by VSPC from LP recovered through application of the Company’s proprietary SiLeach process to lepidolite (mine waste) also achieved a capacity of 161 mAh/g.
VSPC has also achieved similar results with cathode material for test cells created from LP recovered during the application of company processing technology to mixed metal dust (MMD); the MMD was derived from the recycling of spent LIBs by another Lithium Australia subsidiary Envirostream Australia Pty Ltd.
All the LFP produced by VSPC from these low-cost feed options demonstrated physical properties that facilitated efficient cathode production, as well as good retention of capacity at higher discharge rates.
“The availability of low-cost reagents for battery production varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Our work may well result in Australia, and Western Australia in particular, becoming a more competitive environment for battery production,” Mr Griffin said.
“The use of recycled materials can improve sustainability, reduce the industry’s reliance on conflict metals and help protect fragile ecosystems from the impacts of mining. We’re aiming for more ethical and environmentally acceptable outcomes for the battery industry as a whole.”
