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Nano One extends breakthrough in battery longevity tests

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Battery materials technology specialist Nano One (TSX:NANO) has been providing the market with further detail on its high-voltage, cobalt-free battery technology.

The latest durability tests confirm that the new batteries can remain stable at the elevated operating temperatures needed for automotive, power tool and energy storage applications.

Listeners to The Armchair Trader’s podcast series will have heard Nano One CEO Dan Blondal discussing his hopes for this next generation technology, and especially its cobalt-free aspects. We are very much aware of just how reliant many of the new batteries intended for electric cars are on cobalt, a large proportion of which is mined in the Congo.

“Nano One has achieved over 500 fast charge and discharge cycles at 45 degrees C, in an innovative battery design that pairs its high voltage LNM cathode with a conventional electrolyte and a graphite anode,” said Dr Stephen Campbell, CTO at Nano One. “We have also reached 1000 fast charge and discharge cycles at 25 degrees C, demonstrating that issues of excessive gassing, anode contamination and poor cycling may be overcome.”

Breaking through the commercialisation barriers

Nano One owns the technology for proprietary LNM batteries that can enable the benefits of increased voltage, elevated operating temperatures and fast charging. They do this by eliminating failure from gassing in the first few cycles and failure from manganese contamination of the anode in the first 100 cycles. This helps the technology to break through the barriers that have hindered the commercialisation of LNM cathode materials in both conventional liquid and advanced solid state batteries.

LNM, also known as high voltage spinel, is a cobalt-free, low-cost cathode material that operates at 4.7 volts. This voltage is 25% higher than commercial high nickel cathodes. This means better efficiency, thermal management and power. Battery pack models suggest that LNM cathodes may reduce costs by over 30% compared to high nickel NMC materials.

Next generation battery candidate

The LNM cathode is considered to be a leading candidate for next-generation lithium-ion and solid state batteries because of its durability and dimensional stability. This enables a stable interface with both liquid and solid electrolytes. Several independent evaluations are currently underway within the automotive and battery supply chain, which demand lower cost, higher voltage and improved safety, without compromising on longevity or performance.

Campbell said he was very excited by what he saw as the commercialisation and partnership opportunities of the breakthrough. The new data seems to reinforce Nano One’s central role as a provider of cutting edge materials technology for manufacturers seeking new and reliable energy sources that don’t consumer fossil fuels.

At the time of writing, shares in Nano One were trending up at 2.83 from an end-October low of 2.42. The Armchair Trader first started covering Nano One 3 December 2019. The shares were up 114% at the end of October from our 1.13 entry price. We continue to see strong growth prospects for Nano One, both in the core EV / OEM battery technology space, where it is already working with Volkswagen (among others), and also in the wider battery materials supply chain, energy storage and smaller devices applications.

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This article does not constitute investment advice. Do your own research or consult a professional advisor.

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