Battery materials and technology company NOVONIX and niobium specialist CBMM have signed a joint development agreement focused on nickel-based cathode materials.
Under the agreement, NOVONIX will use its patented all-dry, zero-waste synthesis process to synthesize, test, and analyze cathode active materials (CAM), which will incorporate CBMM’s suite of niobium products.
NOVONIX will use its cathode pilot line to characterize the materials’ physical and electrochemical performance, including building full-scale pouch cells for benchmark evaluation. CBMM will provide various materials, which will be used to demonstrate optimal performance with NOVONIX’s cathode powders.
NOVONIX was recently granted a patent for its all-dry, zero-waste cathode synthesis technology in Japan. The company continues to produce various grades of mid- and high-nickel cathode material to specifications of potential commercialization partners, and has begun sampling these pilot-scale 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,” said Dr. Chris Burns, CEO of NOVONIX. “Our agreement with CBMM advances NOVONIX’s strategy to form strong partnerships to demonstrate and commercialize our all-dry, zero-waste cathode synthesis technology.”
CBMM has invested $80 million to establish its first industrial-scale niobium oxide refining facility, with the intent of providing battery makers with niobium. The use of niobium oxide has been shown to improve the cycle life of NMC cathode materials, and CBMM expects it to be a key material in CAM production. Before the end of 2024, CBMM aims to begin production at the new facility, which has a capacity of the 3,000 tonnes per year.
Source: NOVONIX
