Nano One wants to be the power behind low-cost, high-performance battery materials

Achieved an “exceptional” breakthrough in creating a high voltage lithium-ion battery cell with a significant cycle life Patented One-Pot process produces a precursor that forms quickly into a single-crystal cathode along with its protective coating Partnered with global firms, including Pulead, Volkswagen and Saint-Gobain What Nano One Materials does: Nano One Materials Corp (CVE:NNO) (OTCMKTS:NNOMF) is a Canadian technology company that designs the materials that go into lithium-ion batteries. Nano One has an industrial process for producing low-cost, high-performance battery materials and a wide range of other advanced nanostructured composites.  The company’s patented three-stage process uses equipment that is common in industry and is being engineered for high-volume production and rapid commercialization. Nano One’s method combines materials at the atomic level instead of the industry-standard which involves mechanically melting, grinding and milling materials.  The company has built its own demonstration pilot plant and is partnered with global firms, including Pulead, Volkswagen and Saint-Gobain, in the lithium battery supply chain to advance its lithium iron phosphate (LFP), lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) and lithium nickel manganese oxide (LNM) cathode technologies. Nano One’s patented One-Pot process combines the metals, lithium, additives and coatings in a single reaction, which, when dried and fired, produces a precursor that forms quickly into a single-crystal cathode along with its protective coating. Traditional cathodes consist of a dense cluster of crystalline particles, known as polycrystalline, created by forming clusters NMC precursor, milling that with lithium and firing it in a kiln. The problem is that the clusters can expand, contract and break apart after repeated charging, fracturing the outer coating and exposing the crystals to potentially dangerous side reactions. The One-Pot process solves this problem. How is it doing: Nano One has been busy raising capital. On October 15, the company announced an upsized offering worth C$12.5 million. Before that, the company reached what it called milestone one in its project titled, “Scaling Advanced Battery Metals” and received an advanced contribution of C$2.8 million to fund progress toward milestone two. Additionally, the company brought in another C$3 million by issuing warrants. Earlier in the month, Nano One achieved what it called an “exceptional” breakthrough when it successfully created a high voltage lithium-ion battery cell with a significant cycle life. A demonstration battery employed cobalt-free Lithium Nickel Manganese (LNM) cathode active material, which was made using the firm's One-Pot process. That followed a June development in which the company said it developed a coated single-crystal cathode material for lithium-ion batteries capable of providing four times greater longevity.  The company is also working with other parties to advance its technology. In addition to Pulead, Volkswagen and Saint-Gobain, the Vancouver-based company signed a joint development agreement with an unnamed Asian cathode material producer in August to develop and evaluate materials made with combined technologies. What the boss says: "Our high voltage battery resolves excessive gassing and anode contamination issues that are associated with this configuration when operating at both ambient and elevated temperatures," Nano One chief technology officer Stephen Campbell said in a statement in October. "We are able to avoid rapid capacity fade and premature failure and have successfully demonstrated a high voltage lithium-ion battery cell with significant cycle life — this is an exceptional outcome." "Nano One continues to develop processes that make novel cathode materials for the lithium-ion battery future," he added. "We look forward to bringing materials to market for a wide range of applications through various partnerships." Contact Andrew Kessel at andrew.kessel@proactiveinvestors.com Follow him on Twitter @andrew_kessel