Altech Chemicals has launched and registered the product name “Silumina Anodes” for its breakthrough proprietary coating technology that combines silicon particles treated with its innovative high purity alumina technology and routine battery grade graphite to engineer a lithium-ion battery electrode containing a composite graphite-silicon anode. According to the company, the process produces lithium-ion battery anode materials with a 30 per cent higher retention capacity than existing materials.
The ASX-listed company initially made the ground-breaking development late last year following almost 12 months of test work at its laboratory in Perth, Western Australia.
Altech says in addition to its product’s elevated energy retention capacity, when compared to conventional graphite-only anode materials, its graphite-silicone anodes also boast good stability and cycling performance.
Prior to Altech’s work, silicon was not deemed suitable for use in lithium-ion batteries owing to a brace of technological barriers.
Firstly, silicon can inflate up to 300 per cent in volume during battery function, sparking ‘swelling’, fracturing and potentially even battery malfunction. Secondly, silicon can deactivate a significant chunk of battery-hosted lithium-ions. The process is commonly referred to as ‘first-cycle loss’ and leads to reduced battery performance and life.
According to Altech, earlier test work suggests its technology has shown silicon particles can be reformed to resolve capacity fading triggered by both swelling and first-cycle loss.
The use of silicon in battery anode material has in recent times found support from the electric vehicle juggernaut, Tesla, after that company stated a key step in decreasing the price of lithium-ion batteries and lifting energy density is tied to utilising silicon in battery anode material.
According to Altech, silicon offers about ten times the energy retention capabilities of graphite that is traditionally used.
The company is now embarking on a new phase of development that could see it construct a plant to produce its silicon-graphite material in greater quantities. Altech’s “breakthrough” battery project aspirations look to be moving at speed, with the company only last week tying down a 14-hectare industrial site to potentially construct a 10,000 tonne per annum high purity alumina battery materials coating plant in Germany.
Altech’s Silumina Anodes product is already turning heads in the industry and support from an industry titan in Tesla can only help with its market momentum. With the tantalising possibility of a 10,000 tonne per annum high purity alumina battery materials coating plant looking likely, the company could find itself at the forefront of the next new energy revolution.
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