Battery materials and technology company NOVONIX Limited’s (ASX: NVX) Battery Technology Solutions division in Nova Scotia, Canada is receiving up to C$3 million in research and development funding and advisory services.
The grant is being provided via the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP).
NOVONIX will use the funds to advance two important research and development initiatives aimed at enhancing its battery materials and technology projects: the company’s all-dry, zero- waste cathode materials development and pilot line; and a new technology to predict the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries that is supported by the company’s recently announced collaboration with SandboxAQ that leverages their AI-driven chemical simulation software.
We are honored to receive this funding and grateful to NRC IRAP for their support,” said NOVONIX CEO, Dr. Chris Burns.
“Lithium-ion battery tailwinds have accelerated quickly on the back of public policy support, increasing private sector investment, and strong electric vehicle demand. We expect this trend to grow, underscoring the increasing need for NOVONIX’s materials technologies and advanced battery testing expertise that support cleaner high-performance materials.”
In July 2023, NOVONIX commissioned its all-dry, zero-waste cathode pilot line and announced that its material matched the performance of leading cathode materials from existing suppliers in full-cell testing.
The company also recently shared the results of an independent engineering study by Hatch Ltd. that shows potentially significant cost savings and waste reduction of NOVONIX’s proprietary cathode synthesis process compared to the conventional, wet process.
Funding from NRC IRAP will support the growth of the NOVONIX scientific and engineering team specializing in all-dry, zero-waste cathode synthesis. This will allow the company to further develop its cathode synthesis process at pilot scale for various high-nickel cathode chemistries, including cobalt-free materials, and support commercialization engagements with potential customers and partners.
Demand for lithium-ion batteries is rapidly growing and NOVONIX is working to support the global electrification trend by exploring critical technologies and materials that are required for long-life, high-performance battery applications.
By leveraging SandboxAQ’s expertise in artificial intelligence with quantum analysis, NOVONIX is developing a data and analytics product offering that pairs effectively with the company’s existing battery testing equipment and services offering.
NOVONIX’s planned product development is focused on implementing advanced analysis techniques, anomaly detection tools, and using machine-learning to create accurate lifetime prediction using NOVONIX’s UHPC testing equipment and data.