Battery materials and technology company NOVONIX Limited (ASX: NVX) has announced the signing of a joint development agreement focused on nickel-based cathode materials with Brazilian headquartered niobium products leader CBMM.
Under the agreement, NOVONIX will use its patented all-dry, zero-waste synthesis process to synthesize, test, and analyse cathode active materials (CAM) that will incorporate CBMM’s suite of niobium products with the goal of developing a CAM with improved performance at a lower cost.
NOVONIX will utilise its cathode pilot line and the capabilities of its Battery Technology Solutions (BTS) division to characterise the materials under the project through their physical and electrochemical performance, including building full scale pouch cells for benchmark evaluation.
CBMM will provide various materials throughout the project to compare and demonstrate optimal performance in NOVONIX’s cathode powders. Upon successful completion of milestones during this one-year project, NOVONIX and CBMM may enter into an agreement for CBMM products to be integrated into NOVONIX’s production processes.
In July 2023, NOVONIX commissioned its all-dry, zero-waste cathode pilot line and announced its production of material that matched the performance of leading cathode materials from existing suppliers in full-cell testing.
Since then, the company has shared the results of an independent engineering study by Hatch Ltd. that shows the potentially significant cost savings and waste reduction of NOVONIX’s cathode synthesis process compared to the conventional wet process.
NOVONIX was recently granted a patent for its all-dry, zero-waste cathode synthesis technology in Japan, a key market for the production and use of CAM. The company has continued to produce various grades of mid- and high-nickel cathode material to specifications of potential commercialisation partners and began sampling these pilot scale materials. A white paper was recently published to highlight the performance of its mid-nickel materials.
“CBMM’s experience with niobium products allows us to explore the use of important additives to improve the stability and durability of our materials,” Dr. Chris Burns, CEO of NOVONIX, said.
“Our agreement with CBMM advances NOVONIX’s strategy to form strong partnerships to demonstrate and commercialise our all-dry, zero-waste cathode synthesis technology. The agreement also demonstrates our continued commitment to developing industry-leading battery materials to service both the electric vehicle and energy storage industries.”
CBMM has invested $80 million in establishing its first industrial-scale niobium oxide refining facility with the intent of providing battery makers with niobium. The facility is focused on niobium oxide applications for battery materials.
The use of niobium oxide has been shown to improve the cycle life of NMC cathode materials, and it is expected to be a key material in CAM production. Before the end of 2024, CBMM aims to complete its first production from the 3,000 tonnes per annum facility.