Dr Robson Monteiro, senior market development specialist at CBMM, said: “Niobium is used as a doping or coating to increase thermal and structural stability in cathode active materials. They have chemistries with high nickel or high manganese and low cobalt content, and those completely free of nickel and cobalt, improving performance, safety and durability of batteries.”
The company points out that niobium is a metal with properties very similar to tantalum, but less rare. It is a disrupting element in advanced lithium-ion batteries since niobium enables the development of materials with fast charging capabilities. Use of niobium offers stable delivery of high energy densities and improved safety in longer durability. Another advantage is that dependance on cobalt will be reduced or even eliminated.
CBMM says niobium oxides have multiple valence states in their polymorphic structures, which give rise to unique electronic properties in crystalline orientations – ideal for energy storage applications.
CBMM, which partners with leading battery producers in Asia, organised a conference in London 6 December. It brought together scientists and industry representatives to discuss the latest advances in the sector.
Typical anodes are niobium titanium oxide (NTO), niobium tungsten oxide (NWO) and niobia (nanostructured niobium). Examples of cathode technology are niobium doped/coated procedures for Co-reduced or Co-free, Li-rich and Mn-based cathodes as well as lithium-rich niobium-based cation-disordered rock-salt structure (Li₃NbO₄). As solid electrolyte niobium layers are applied on LiLaZrOx composite or Nb-S glass.
Niobium oxide in the cathode active materials is in the final stages of development in Asia, for example in China, South Korea and Japan, according to CBMM. These technologies will be available for the initial customers within a few months and enter the market with mass production by 2024 onwards.
It expects sales of niobium oxide to the region for use in cathodes to reach 1,000 tonnes in 2024. The company said it allocates $50 million per year to niobium R&D.
