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PGMs eyed to elevate battery tech to new heights

Amplats market development head Benny Oeyen

Amplats market development head Benny Oeyen

Photo by Creamer Media's Dylan Slater

15th July 2019

By: Marleny Arnoldi

Deputy Editor Online

     

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JSE-listed Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) and TSX-listed Platinum Group Metals (PTM) have launched a joint venture, Lion Battery Technologies, to accelerate the development of next-generation battery technology using platinum and palladium.

Lion has subsequently entered into an agreement with Florida International University to further advance a research programme that uses platinum and palladium to unlock the potential of lithium air and lithium sulphur battery chemistries, to increase their discharge capacities and cyclability.

In response to questions by Mining Weekly Online, Amplats spokesperson Jana Marais clarified that the platinum and palladium would increase the discharge capacity and cyclability of the lithium air – also called lithium oxygen – and lithium sulphur batteries by reducing the charge over-potential and stabilising the electrolytes through minimising reactivity with the anode.

Amplats in a statement on Monday said Lion was reviewing several additional and complementary opportunities focused on developing this battery technology.

"The current focus of the research and development (R&D) is to improve the readiness of the technology. Our primary focus is to determine the viable concentration of platinum group metals (PGMs) needed to achieve the battery performance desired, especially on discharge capacity and cyclability. The R&D sponsorship is envisaged to last for three years to improve their technology-readiness level. Commercialisation will depend upon the results achieved during this first R&D phase," said Marais.

She noted that it was not possible to speculate, at this stage, the loading of platinum or palladium within the technology. An objective of the R&D programme would be to define the concentration of PGMs within lithium oxygen and lithium sulphur batteries needed to achieve the desirable level of discharge capacity and cyclability to surpass those of lithium-ion.

“Owing to considerably higher energy density, lithium oxygen and lithium sulphur batteries can perform better, by orders of magnitude, than best-in-class lithium-ion batteries that are currently on the market," Amplats market development head Benny Oeyen said.

Marais pointed out that the lithium oxygen and lithium sulphur could outperform best-in-class lithium-ion batteries by as much as eight times in terms of discharge capacity and cyclability.

“This new generation of lightweight, power batteries has the potential to grow to scale on the back of the attractiveness of battery electric vehicles and other applications,” said Amplats market development head Benny Oeyen.

He added that this early-stage technology was aligned with the company’s broader strategy to bring new technologies to market that would help it secure future demand for platinum group metals (PGMs).

Marais noted that the research could, in future, be expanded to other types of battery technologies that could also use platinum and palladium.

Amplats did not expect the Lion technology to compete with fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), but rather act as a complementary option "catering to the needs of a market which is increasingly focused on decarbonisation".

Marais said Amplats was committed to playing a leading role in building a more sustainable energy future, particularly for an integrated and decarbonised mobility ecosystem.

"The ability of FCEVs to guarantee outstanding performance in terms of range (thanks to hydrogen’s high energy density), refuelling times, weight and dimensions makes them a prominent option for the decarbonisation of transport.
 
"We see battery electric vehicles not as a competing solution to fuel cells in achieving these goals, but as a complementary technology that will coexist in the automotive sector, responding to different consumer demands and mobility challenges," she pointed out.

She further explained that this new venture aligned well with Amplats' strategy to nurture discoveries, inventions and early-stage technologies within the broader innovation ecosystem of PGMs.

"The research fund, through Lion Battery Technologies, will provide a vital financial bridge to bring the nascent innovation of lithium air and lithium sulphur battery technology to the appropriate technology readiness level. AP Ventures will be a potential investor in Lion Battery Technologies when the technology is sufficiently de-risked and a commercial line of sight is created," she said.

Marais explained that the Lion Battery Technology venture had specifically been structured to allow additional third-party capital, possibly from venture capital funds such as Amplats' AP Ventures, to be brought in.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

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