NEO Battery Materials Ltd announced that it has signed a letter of intent (LOI) to form a research consortium with the University of Toronto and an undisclosed global Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for the development and scale-up of lithium-ion battery material technologies for Canada's emerging battery electric vehicle (BEV) industry.
Under the LOI, a joint Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Alliance Grant Proposal will be developed as a foundation research project to support the creation of the ‘NEO Centre of Excellence for Battery Materials’ at the University of Toronto.
With NEO's Scientific Advisors, Mohini Sain and Ning Yan, one of the initial and urgent focuses of this research consortium will be on developing and optimizing battery nanocoating materials for the company's silicon (Si)-based negative electrodes or anodes.
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“Working with highly reputable and distinguished professors in the field of biocomposites and biobased chemicals, Dr. Sain and Dr. Yan, we are looking towards fast-paced commercialization programs for NEO's advanced battery materials and innovations through the Centre of Excellence,” said Spencer Huh, CEO of NEO, in a statement.
He continued: “Through this initiative, NEO will use this as a ground for further applications to the Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) and both federal and provincial government funding for zero-emission and cleantech projects."
The preliminary project will involve the full electrode fabrication of silicon-carbon composite anodes through NEO's silicon particle nanocoating process with graphite applicable for electric vehicles.
Novel binder technologies and renewable carbon conductive additives will be researched and commercialized to enhance the durability, adhesion, and conductivity of NEO's Si anodes. With the active material, binders and conductive additives are core components in the manufacturing process of the fully functional anode in the lithium-ion battery for BEV usage.
The Vancouver, British Columbia-based company said that the partnership will institute a foundation for long-term battery material research, development, and scale-up programs, focusing on sustainable and advanced materials and the manufacturing of high energy density lithium-ion battery technologies.
NEO has a focus on producing silicon anodes materials through its proprietary single-step nanocoating process, which provides improvements in capacity and efficiency over lithium-ion batteries using graphite in their anode materials. The company is looking to become a silicon anode active materials supplier to the electric vehicle industry.
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