Lithium Australia NL’s (ASX:LIT) (OTCMKTS:LMMFF) (FRA:3MW) wholly-owned subsidiary VSPC Ltd has successfully produced lithium manganese ferro phosphate (LMFP) battery cells for testing.
Due to their higher voltage, these cells provide greater energy density than that of standard lithium ferro phosphate (LFP) cells.
Success in testing LMFP cells demonstrates the potential for VSPC’s patented manufacturing process to synthesise LMFP for transportation applications.
Future battery manufacturing hub
Lithium Australia managing director Adrian Griffin said: “Lithium Australia subsidiary VSPC has made great progress towards improving the production and sustainability of LIBs.
“Its patented technology has proved successful in the synthesis of high-energy-density LMFP battery cells, which are low-cost and retain the superior safety characteristics associated with LFP LIBs.
“Indeed, LFP is currently increasing its share of the battery market, and commercialisation of VSPC’s LMFP will provide consumers with the best combination of safety, cost and energy density.
“VSPC’s evaluation of low-cost feed materials for LIB production has the potential to make Australia, already the world’s largest lithium producer, a future battery manufacturing hub.”
Higher energy density
The discharge curves: For cells manufactured from VSPC-produced LFP (left) and VSPC-produced LMFP (right).
The higher voltage delivery of the LMFP cells results in an energy density increase of up to 25% when compared with the LFP cells.
Globally, major LFP cell producers are striving to achieve similar increases in energy density by introducing manganese as a component of their cathode powder.
Currently, the types of LIBs most commonly used in electric vehicles (EVs) are nickel-cobalt manganese and nickel-cobalt-aluminum, both of which have a spinel (oxide) structure characterised by relatively low-strength chemical bonds.
LFP and LMFP, however, are composed of phosphates (olivine-like crystal structures) with exceptionally high bond strengths.
This fundamental physical property results in the superior characteristics, which includes thermal stability and the long service life of LFP- and LMFP-type LIBs.
Rapid-charge batteries
VSPC plans to develop a rapid-charge battery for transportation applications and its recent success shows the potential for VSPC’s patented manufacturing process to synthesise LMFP for these applications.
Due to its higher energy density, LMFP should reduce the ‘range anxiety’ associated with standard LFP formulations designed for EVs.
Low-cost raw materials
Producing high-performance LIBs without the requirement for nickel or cobalt has many advantages, with safety being paramount.
In addition, the use of common bulk commodities such as manganese, iron and phosphorus reduces costs while access to more reliable supply chains is a further advantage.
VSPC’s active program to reduce costs even further includes its evaluation of industrial waste materials as feed, as well as the production of cathode-material precursors derived from spent LIBs.
Commercialisation of LMFP
Commercialisation of LMFP for the production of LIBs would eliminate the requirement for materials from regions in which human rights abuse, including the use of child labour, is rife.
Further, using materials derived from industrial waste materials and spent batteries to create precursors for new LFP- or LMFP- type LIBs can enhance sustainability and reduce supply chain risk.