IGO suspends annual dividends from Tianqi JV amid market downturn
The JV experienced a build in lithium hydroxide inventory at Kwinana over recent months.
Lithium Australia (ASX: LIT) announced that its subsidiary VSPC’s Australian patent for a cathode material manufacturing process has been accepted for a grant.
In a press release, the companies said they are developing efficient and sustainable process technologies to manufacture materials for lithium-ion batteries.
According to the firms, for the past two years, VSPC has simplified its process for the production of lithium metal phosphate cathode powders, enabling the use of a broader range of raw materials as feed.
The result of such work – they say – has significantly reduced the cost of manufacturing lithium-ferro-phosphate and other lithium metal phosphate materials, among them lithium-manganese-iron-phosphate.
Lithium Australia and VSPC say they want to provide practical solutions for electric vehicle manufacturers seeking cobalt-free batteries
“Acceptance of the patent application for the production of phosphate-based cathode materials for LIBs is a great step forward for the company,” Lithium Australia managing director, Adrian Griffin, said in the media brief.
“Lithium Australia/VSPC can now provide practical solutions for electric vehicle manufacturers seeking cobalt-free batteries.”
According to Griffin, his team has also developed LMFP materials, which have the potential to be used for phosphate-based, nickel- and cobalt-free batteries to achieve the high energy densities needed for e-mobility applications.
“Patent protection will provide us with a significant cost advantage in the production cycle of what is currently the most rapidly expanding sector of the battery industry,” the executive said.
