Nano One Materials Corp (CVE:NNO) (OTCPINK:NOMF) (FRA:LBMB) has launched a new technology, aimed at reducing costs, waste and carbon emissions for the lithium-ion battery supply chain.
It has adapted its One-Pot process to be used in a so-called 'metal to cathode active material' (M2CAM) initiative. This will allow cathode materials, used in lithium-ion batteries, to be made direct from metal using powder feedstocks rather than metal sulfates or other salts. Using sulfates is a long, complicated, wasteful process, with margins added at each stage, noted Nano One.
READ: Nano One Materials says technology performing well in solid-state battery testing with University of Michigan
Patents for the M2CAM process are currently pending and preliminary tests are showing battery capacity up to 5% higher than with cathode materials currently made from metal salts.
"Miners are compelled to reduce their carbon footprint, both from internal corporate ESG mandates and in meeting customer requirements, none more so than those in the battery supply chain," said Robert Morris, the company's strategy advisor and former vice-president of sales and marketing for base metals mining giant Vale.
"OEM's want 'clean nickel' and that refers to the mining, refining and logistics of getting the product to the place, where it will be consumed. Metal producers should have an ESG and premium advantage over sulfate and other non-metal producers, if their nickel can be used directly in the production of cathode materials."
Nano One's innovation addresses the growing ESG (environmental social governance) calls in the industry as its one-pot process eliminates the need for costly and energy-intensive conversion of nickel, cobalt and manganese to sulfate.
Among other advantages to the method, it eliminates the shipment of large quantities of water and sulfur, lowering energy, emissions and costs of shipping by four to five times.
The company has developed patented technology for the low-cost production of high-performance lithium-ion battery cathode materials used in electric vehicles, energy storage and consumer electronics.
Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com
