By Davide Ghilotti
Published: Monday, 31 July 2017

Graphite developer Syrah Resources Ltd and battery technology company Cadenza Innovation will work together on advancements in graphite anode technology for battery applications, the firms announced on 31 July.

The two companies have signed a long-term research and development agreement to explore technology development aimed at the lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery market for electric vehicles (EVs), grid and other uses.

Specifically, the work will focus on developing and testing advanced battery anode materials (BAM).

Headquartered in Connecticut, the US, Cadenza is a technology startup focused on energy storage. Earlier this summer, the company issued a patent for a so-called super-cell battery architecture – a multi-core lithium battery cell structure, which Cadenza claims can simplify battery design, reducing production costs and improving density.

At the end of March, Syrah signed a non-binding agreement with Chinese anode materials maker BTR New Energy Materials Inc. – the largest producer of battery anodes for the lithium-ion market – over potential cooperation regarding the supply of graphite materials.

Syrah Resources is on track to bring its Balama graphite project in Mozambique into production in August. Construction operations were 90% complete by early July.

The ASX-listed junior miner is expected to produce 380,000 tpa graphite once at full capacity, with a view to supply established graphite markets such as refractories and lubricants as well as the battery market, where the bulk of future demand is expected to be generated.

 

http://www.indmin.com/Article/3737808/Syrah-to-develop-battery-anode-materials-with-US-startup.html