Nano One Materials Corp [TSX:NANO/OTC:NNOMF] says it has successfully completed Phase One of its advanced lithium-ion battery cathode materials coating development agreement with CBMM, the world’s leading supplier of niobium products and technology.
Nano One is a clean technology company with a patented low carbon intensity process for the production of low cost, high-performance cathode materials used in lithium-ion batteries. The technology is applicable to electric vehicle, energy storage, consumer electronic and next generation batteries in the global push for a zero-emission future.
“Nano One has successfully demonstrated the use of CBMM’s niobium to form a protective coating on our single nanocrystal NMC cathode active material,” said Nano One CTO Dr. Stephen Campbell, “This coating is designed to enhance durability, and our success on this first milestone strengthens the supply chain relationship between CBMM and Nano One while providing yet another demonstration of the flexibility of Nano One’s patented One-Pot process.”
Why is this project important?
Phase One applied the niobium coating technology to NMC811 cathode active material and the next two phases will focus on the niobium coating of even higher nickel NMC, Nano One confirmed yesterday. This will include scaling of the company’s proprietary One-Pot coating technology to demonstrate commercial viability and validate the supply chain.
Together, CBMM and Nano One are developing an integrated and differentiated supply chain for niobium coated single crystal cathode materials.
Who is CBMM?
CBMM is the world’s leading supplier of niobium products and technology, with over 400 clients in 50 countries. Fully integrated from the mine to the final products, CBMM also provides expert technical assistance to customers around the globe. Based in Brazil, with offices and subsidiaries in China, the Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland and the United States, the company provides cutting-edge products and technology to the infrastructure, mobility, aerospace, healthcare and energy industries.
Nano One’s patented One-Pot process adds a cost effective niobium coating on each individual nanocrystal to protect the cathode from deleterious side reactions than can otherwise cause rapid performance degradation. The One-Pot process enables this coating to be formed without adding process steps or costs, and the coating can significantly increase the durability of cathode materials in lithium-ion batteries. The niobium coated single crystal cathode materials are applicable to both conventional liquid electrolyte cells and advanced solid state electrolyte cells.
World leader in niobium
Nano One CEO Dan Blondal added: “CBMM is the world leader in niobium, and by completing this milestone with them, we have advanced a step closer to our commercialisation and supply chain development goals. Successful upstream collaborations, such as this, help us bring strategic value to downstream partners as we progress towards the adoption and commercial application of our technologies.”
The results of this first milestone demonstrate the viability of making niobium enhanced high-energy battery materials using Nano One’s ground-breaking process.
Nano One’s One-Pot process, its coated nanocrystal materials and its Metal to Cathode Active Material (M2CAM) technologies address fundamental performance needs and supply chain constraints while reducing costs and carbon footprint. Nano One has received funding from various government programs and its current “Scaling of Advanced Battery Materials Project” is supported by Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) and the Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund of the Province of British Columbia.
