Advanced material technology company, Perth-based Talga Resources has achieved a significant breakthrough in the performance of its graphite anode material in commercial-size cells for the lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery market. In tests at leading global independent facility WMG, part of the University of Warwick’s Energy Innovation Centre, Talga’s graphite anode material was benchmarked against a current market leading anode graphite product.
Highlights are as follows: test results – performance benefits over reference anode graphite:
• 20% higher capacity (total energy)
• 20% higher power (fast charge/discharge)
• No capacity fade after 300 cycles (>99% energy retention)
• 94% first cycle efficiency
• Successful scale up – from half coin cells to commercial size pouch cell
Cost and other efficiencies over current commercial anode graphite:
• No micronisation
• No spheronisation
• No milling losses (high yield)
• No coating
• Potentially less waste, energy and environmental impacts
Benefits for Talga:
• Can use as a by-product of graphene production
• European Li-ion battery market growing at CAGR 24% 2020-2025
• Increased near term sales potential in addition to graphene products
• Positions Talga to enter market at higher level of Li-ion anode supply chain and higher price point
• Results show potential to exceed synthetic and natural graphite standards used by global battery component supply chain and automotive industry
• Talks underway with European and Asian based battery manufacturers and end users.
Talga Managing Director, Mark Thompson: “These results are a highly significant development for Talga. The unique characteristics of our Swedish graphite ore body combined with our proprietary processing technologies produces a Li-ion battery with significantly higher power and energy as tested by WMG.
“The company considers that based on the results, Talga’s graphite will set the industry standard for lowering cost of production as it eliminates comparatively expensive industry standard spheronisation/micronisation and coating required for material currently sourced from Chinese and other graphite flake producers. We also don’t see their large milling losses resulting from milling down large graphite flakes to suit battery anode size material.
“The test results and Talga’s unique position in the market create optionality for scale-up development, commercial partnerships and sales of advanced materials in addition to graphene-only products in future.
“Talga’s significant resources positions our energy products division to evolve into a stand-alone battery technology company with exclusive access to a lower cost and unique, high performance battery grade graphite, sourced from our wholly owned deposits in Sweden.”
Talga is a technology minerals company with significant advantages owing to its 100% owned unique high grade conductive graphite deposits in Sweden, a test processing facility in Germany and in-house product development and technology. Advanced product testing is underway with a range of international corporations including industrial conglomerate Chemetall (part of BASF), Heidelberg Cement, Tata Steel, Haydale, Zinergy and Jena Batteries
