Perth-based Talga Resources has achieved a significant breakthrough in the performance of its graphite anode material in commercial-size cells for the lithium-ion (“Li-ion”) battery market.

Wide shot of Talga's Vittangi graphite being cut

In tests at leading global independent facility WMG, part of the University of Warwick’s Energy Innovation Centre, Talga’s graphite anode material was benchmarked against a current market leading anode graphite product.

A summary of the battery test results are as follows:
Test Results - Performance benefits over reference anode graphite
• 20% higher capacity (total energy)
• 20% higher power (fast charge/discharge)
• No capacity fade after 300 cycles (>99% energy retention)
• 94% first cycle efficiency
• Successful scale up - from half coin cells to commercial size pouch cell

Cost and other efficiencies over current commercial anode graphite
• No micronisation
• No spheronisation
• No milling losses (high yield)
• No coating
• Potentially less waste, energy and environmental impacts

Benefits for Talga
• Can use as a by-product of graphene production
• European Li-ion battery market growing at CAGR 24 per cent 2020-2025
• Increased near term sales potential in addition to graphene products
• Positions Talga to enter market at higher level of Li-ion anode supply chain and higher price point
• Results show potential to exceed synthetic and natural graphite standards used by global battery component supply chain and automotive industry
• Talks underway with European and Asian based battery manufacturers and end users

“These results are a highly significant development for Talga. The unique characteristics of our Swedish graphite ore body combined with our proprietary processing technologies produces a Li-ion battery with significantly higher power and energy as tested by WMG”, said Talga Managing Director, Mr Mark Thompson.

“The Company considers that based on the results, Talga’s graphite will set the industry standard for lowering cost of production as it eliminates comparatively expensive industry standard spheronisation/micronisation and coating required for material currently sourced from Chinese and other graphite flake producers. We also don’t see their large milling losses resulting from milling down large graphite flakes to suit battery anode size material.”

Source: www.talgaresources.com