Two mining firms have formed a joint venture to develop both lithium-air and lithium-sulfur batteries in a bid to drive the market for palladium and platinum.
Canada-based Platinum Group Metals (PGM) and South African firm Anglo American Platinum (APP) launched Lion Battery Technologies to accelerate the use of platinum and palladium in lithium-air and lithium-sulfur battery technology.
The focus of the new firm is to support a research project led by Florida International University exploring the use of platinum and palladium in next-generation batteries.
Scientists may expand research to other types of battery technologies that could also use the materials that increase the discharge capacities and cyclability of the chemistries.
The R&D sponsorship is due to last for three years, with Lion retaining all intellectual property created during the research period. The new firm will also lead all commercialisation efforts arising from the research.
A spokesman for the South African firm told BEST Battery Briefing: “An objective of the R&D programme is to define the concentration of platinum group metals within lithium-oxygen/air and lithium-sulfur batteries needed to achieve the desirable level of discharge capacity and cyclability to surpass those of lithium-ion.”
“Platinum and palladium increase the discharge capacity and cyclability of lithium-air and lithium-sulfur batteries by reducing the charge over-potential, and stabilising the electrolytes through minimising reactivity with the anode,” the spokesman said.
“The current focus of the R&D is to improve the readiness of the technology. Our primary focus is to determine the viable concentration of platinum group metals needed to achieve the battery performance desired, especially on discharge capacity and cyclability.”
“Commercialisation will depend upon the results achieved during this first R&D phase.”
AAP holds a “substantial” share in Lion, but the spokesman said due to confidentiality agreements, they could not disclose the exact shareholding or the size of the initial investment.
When ready for commercialisation, Lion will target the batteries at the electric vehicles and non-mobility markets.
Michael Jones, CEO of Platinum Group Metals, said: “Developing new applications for platinum group metals is key to ensuring long-term sustainable demand, demand which will be important to the future success of our large-scale Waterberg palladium and platinum mining project in South Africa.”
