Lithium Australia’s VSPC joins R&D for
solid-state lithium metal batteries

"If this R&D is successful, it provides VSPC with an opportunity to produce all three of the battery components - cathode, anode and electrolyte - and influence battery design to maximise critical materials and overall recyclability," says MD.

Lithium Australia NL(ASX:LIT,OTC:LMMFF)’s wholly-owned subsidiary VSPC Ltd has committed to provide support funding for research and development (R&D) for solid-state lithium metal battery technology - the next generation of lithium batteries.

This research is being conducted under an Australian Research Council (ARC) Grant awarded to the University of Technology Sydney (Centre for Clean Energy Technologies) (‘UTS’) in conjunction with Industry Partner Advanced Battery Technologies Pty Ltd (ABT).

Industry support funding

VSPC recognises the importance of R&D for continuing improvements to battery components and performance, hence its participation in the R&D.

The program will focus on key innovations around battery design components to be used in conjunction with lithium metal anodes.

VSPC has committed to provide industry support funding of up to A$250,000 over three years (with an initial investment of A$30,000) for ARC Grant LP200200926 entitled 'Solid-State Lithium Batteries Using Phase-Stabilised Electrolytes'.

Read: Lithium Australia investee Envirostream in battery collection deal with Bunnings

Opportunity to corner component market

"If this R&D is successful, it provides VSPC with an opportunity to produce all three of the battery components - cathode, anode and electrolyte - and influence battery design to maximise critical materials and overall recyclability,” Lithium Australia managing director Adrian Griffin said.

“It also allows VSPC to partner with UTS’s world-class research team and support development of Australian leadership in solid-state battery technologies development.

"The collaboration is a further step on the path of Lithium Australia’s engagement in realising the most effective solutions for the renewable energy transition underway in Australia and globally."

R&D on solid-state lithium batteries

R&D under the ARC Grant will be conducted by UTS which will focus on key innovations for solid-state lithium metal batteries. R&D will focus on three areas including investigations on:

• Performance characteristics of batteries using three of the most prospective solid-state electrolytes identified to date;
• Two cathode types; and
• The use electrode interface controls that protect electrolytes with the aim of significantly increasing cell cycle life.

Why solid-state lithium?

All-solid-state lithium metal batteries are recognised in the industry as the most likely path to achieving the next step-change performance increase above the potential of lithium-ion battery (LIB) technology.

An all-solid-state, lithium-sulphur (Li-S) battery potentially offers 2-3 times the specific energy values compared to LIBs. Also targeted are major improvements in the chemical stability and toxicity of electrolytes, operating life, and overall safety.

Circular battery economy

Lithium Australia aims to ensure an ethical supply of energy metals to the battery industry by creating a circular battery economy that enhances both sustainability and resource security.

Reprocessing spent lithium-ion batteries to create new ones is intrinsic to this plan, with the company operating Australia's only fully integrated mixed battery recycling business through VSPC.

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