Nano One has developed a patented low carbon intensity process for the production of low cost, high-performance cathode materials used in lithium-ion batteries. The objective of the agreement with CBMM is to optimise Nano One’s patented One-Pot process for nickel rich cathode materials using niobium from CBMM as a coating. The project details and financial contributions are confidential.
“Nano One has successfully demonstrated the use of niobium as a coating for various cathode materials and has several related patents now granted and pending” said Nano One CTO Dr. Stephen Campbell. “Our One-Pot process enables us to form coatings simultaneously with the underlying cathode material. This avoids extra steps and costs while enabling individual nanocrystals, also known as single crystals, to be coated for increased durability. With the support and partnership of CBMM, we will build on these successes and optimize our One-Pot process for the production of niobium coated nickel rich cathode materials for demanding applications such as electric vehicles.”
Niobium is a key element in the advancement of lithium-ion battery cathode materials as it can be made to form a coating on the outer surface of each grain of a cathode powder. As a coating, niobium protects the highly reactive cathode from deleterious side reactions that can cause rapid degradation in high performance batteries while preventing the growth of interfacial resistance during battery cycling. Nano One’s lithium niobate coating is a form of non-flammable ceramic solid state electrolyte that allows lithium ions to pass through it and into the cathode material during discharge whilst protecting the cathode from side reactions.
Nano One’s coated nanocrystals have been proven to significantly increase the durability of cathode active materials in lithium-ion batteries, as most recently announced on January 16 and June 24 2020. The ability to coat without additional steps keeps costs down and is unique to the patented Nano One process.
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