Graphite Anode Manufacturers Face Challenges
Graphite anode materials are an essential part of lithium-ion battery technologies. The market for these materials is growing rapidly. But manufacturers have been facing challenges in the past few years.
With the first synthetic graphite anode capacity in North America, Anovion is a pioneer in this field. Using its proven graphitization technology, Anovion produces crystalline anodes with extremely low impurities. Moreover, its products have already been qualified for key markets.
With an expansion plan underway, the company expects to reach a capacity of 150,000 tpa by 2025. Meanwhile, it is actively seeking partners to expand its production. Its goal is to provide a high-quality and environmentally sustainable product at competitive prices.
Besides synthetic graphite, Anovion also offers a variety of high-performance anode materials. These include a water-soluble binder and silicon-graphite nanoparticles. Those products are undergoing qualification testing with leading automotive electric vehicle OEMs.
In addition, the company plans to start producing foils. For this application, it is necessary to pre-treatment the anode. To accomplish this, it is necessary to apply different strategies. This includes a mild oxidation, electrode coating, and ex situ modification of the graphite surface.
BatteryLimits, an Australian-based company, has been focused on this area for more than a decade. After a number of studies on major graphite companies, it is prepared to take action this year.
Several approaches have been developed to reduce the first cycle irreversible capacity of the anode. However, the fraction of active materials that is recovered is inadequate.
