Australian graphite producer Talga Resources is to collaborate on work including cell production with partners under the UK’s Faraday Battery Challenge R&D programme.
Talga said it has signed formal agreements through its UK subsidiary, Talga Technologies, to work on initiatives including battery pack design and assembly.
Talga said its participation “follows successful tests of its natural carbon materials and technologies in lithium-ion batteries”.
The company will help to develop and supply graphene-silicon hybrid and graphene-metal alloy anode materials.
Managing director Mark Thompson said: “These UK Faraday programmes will enhance Talga’s ability to deliver on our energy and battery sector technical and commercial objectives.”
Talga announced in 2016 that independent test work on the company’s Swedish ore had shown it required less processing— which could pave the way to cheaper lithium-ion batteries.
The company said cell tests showed its graphite did not require milling, purification, shaping or coating to meet commercial level performance in capacity over 100 cycles.
BBB reported last month that the UK’s planned National Battery Manufacturing Development Facility is set to start operations in 2020 as part of the government-backed Faraday initiative.