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Highlights
- Joint Collaboration Agreement to enhance nickel-based cathode active materials.
- Funding secured under Canada-UK critical minerals initiative.
- Focus on integrating recycled materials to bolster sustainability in battery production.
NOVONIX Limited, a prominent player in battery materials and technology, has partnered with ICoNiChem Widnes Limited, a leader in cobalt and nickel salt production, to advance the development of nickel-based cathode active materials (CAM). This strategic collaboration underscores both companies' commitment to sustainability in the rapidly evolving battery materials sector.
The partnership was initiated through a Joint Collaboration Agreement that aims to optimize the synthesis of CAM using ICoNiChem’s recycled cobalt and nickel. This agreement aligns with the 2024 Canada-UK critical minerals call for proposals, which seeks to fund innovative projects that leverage critical minerals for industries such as renewable energy, electric vehicles, and electronics.
As part of this initiative, NOVONIX Battery Technology Solutions Inc., a Canadian subsidiary of NOVONIX, is set to receive advisory services and funding of up to CAD $127,928 from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP). In parallel, ICoNiChem will benefit from support through Innovate UK. The total budget for the two-year project is CAD $515,686, reflecting the scale and ambition of the endeavor.
Dr. Chris Burns, CEO of NOVONIX, emphasized the importance of this partnership, stating, “NOVONIX will utilize its patented all-dry, zero-waste synthesis process to synthesize, test, and analyze cathode active materials that will incorporate ICoNiChem’s recycled cobalt and nickel. Our involvement reflects our continued commitment to advancing sustainable solutions, reducing cathode processing costs, and strengthening the critical mineral supply chain across North America, the UK, and beyond.”
ICoNiChem’s Managing Director, Berk Sengul, echoed this sentiment, stating, “This is a fantastic opportunity to work with a world-class company like NOVONIX to develop a UK supply chain for nickel-based cathode active materials. The project will strengthen ICoNiChem’s position as a global player in cobalt and nickel materials.”
The collaboration will leverage ICoNiChem’s expertise in providing recycled materials, including cobalt and nickel carbonates and oxides. These materials will be utilized in various formulations to identify and demonstrate optimal performance in cathode powders. The project will also make extensive use of NOVONIX’s cathode pilot line and other services to evaluate the physical and electrochemical performance of the developed materials. Ultimately, these materials will be assembled into full-scale pouch cells, allowing for performance benchmarking against leading cathode materials on the market.
Successful completion of the project’s milestones may open avenues for NOVONIX to enter into commercial agreements for ICoNiChem products, paving the way for integrating recycled feed into NOVONIX’s CAM production processes. This potential integration not only enhances sustainability efforts but also aims to bolster the overall efficiency of battery manufacturing.
