Lithium Australia subsidiary converts waste into high performance lithium-ion battery cathodes

Lithium Australia NL (ASX:LIT) has produced high-performance battery cells using lithium recovered from mine waste and spent lithium-ion batteries via proprietary company technology. The company’s wholly-owned subsidiary VSPC Ltd has been evaluating low-cost raw-material options for the manufacture of lithium ferro phosphate (LFP) cathode material using its proprietary reduced-cost (VSPC-RC) process. VSPC's LFP material was used to create battery cells for electrochemical testing which revealed that the cells achieved capacities of up to 161 milliampere hours per gram at a 0.1C discharge rate. This is equivalent to or exceeding that of the best LFP cathode materials currently on the market and results were in excess of the capacity specifications of commercial battery-cell manufacturers. “Competitive environment for battery production” The company is confident that there could be potential for Australia to become more competitive in terms of battery production. Lithium Australia managing director Adrian Griffin said: "The availability of low-cost reagents for battery production varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. “Our work may well result in Australia, and Western Australia in particular, becoming a more competitive environment for battery production. “The use of recycled materials can improve sustainability, reduce the industry’s reliance on conflict metals and help protect fragile ecosystems from the impacts of mining. “We’re aiming for more ethical and environmentally acceptable outcomes for the battery industry as a whole.” Similar results from MMD VSPC achieved similar results with cathode material for test cells created from lithium phosphate (LP) recovered during the application of company processing technology to mixed metal dust (MMD). The MMD was derived from the recycling of spent LIBs by company subsidiary Envirostream Australia Pty Ltd. Test results for all the cell samples VSPC produced using low-cost materials were excellent, exceeding the capacity specifications of commercial cell manufacturers, which is generally 158 mAh/g. The LFP produced by VSPC from LP recovered from MMD (spent LIBs) achieved a capacity of 159 mAh/g; The LFP produced by VSPC from LP recovered through application of the company’s proprietary LieNA® process to fine or low-grade spodumene discarded during the production of commercial lithium concentrates achieved a capacity of 161 mAh/g; and The LFP produced by VSPC from LP recovered through application of the company’s proprietary SiLeach® process to lepidolite (mine waste) also achieved a capacity of 161 mAh/g1 . All the LFP produced by VSPC from these low-cost feed options demonstrated physical properties that facilitated efficient cathode production, as well as good retention of capacity at higher discharge rates. Mining waste material The materials recovered from mining waste often have a lower environmental footprint than those created from virgin natural resources. VSPC’s results confirm the flexibility of its process for creating high-quality cathode material from LP recovered from mineral waste and recycled LIBs. Lithium Australia believes that the ability to extract and refine lithium from low-cost sources for use in battery manufacture could lead to significant savings and greater sustainability for the relevant manufacturing and mining industries. In addition to evaluating low-cost lithium and phosphorous sources in the creation of cathode materials, VSPC is also investigating alternatives for iron reagents.