Applied Minerals Moves Closer to Commercialization of its DRAGONITE(R) Halloysite Clay for Use in Lithium-Ion Battery Technologies - Seite 2

Battery manufacturers are focused on developing an ASSLB that meets the performance requirements of electric vehicle manufacturers at a cost that makes widespread commercial adoption feasible. The key technical challenge lies in the development of a solid electrolyte.

According to Andre Zeitoun: "The development of a technologically robust ASSLB is arguably the next significant advance for the Li-ion battery industry in general and for the electric vehicle market in particular. However, technical challenges and high manufacturing costs associated with the solid electrolyte have hampered a wider adoption of electric vehicles."

Zeitoun continued, "In response to these challenges, the University of Utah and Central South University (China) have developed a Dragonite-loaded solid polymer electrolyte ("SPE") that provides cost-effective conductivity over a wide range of operating temperatures, as well as the storage capacity required by the electric vehicle industry (research) (patent application). We believe the development of this technology is a further step toward the commercialization of ASSLB's."

According to an analysis carried out by the University of Utah, the opportunity for DRAGONITE as an additive in SPE's is approximately $100 million per annum.

Currently, a leading manufacturer of electrolytes is evaluating DRAGONITE for use as an additive in a solid polymer electrolyte. The Company, with the help of the University of Utah, is aggressively introducing the technology to a number of other electrolyte manufacturers.

Halloysite-Synthesized Silicon Anodes
The anode of a Li-ion battery absorbs lithium ions during the charging phase and releases ions during the discharge phase. The energy capacity of a Li-ion battery is determined, in large part, by the capacity of the anode to store these lithium ions. Conventional anodes are made of a porous carbon, such as graphite, due to its ability to absorb lithium ions.

To increase the energy storage of Li-ion batteries, some battery manufacturers have focused on developing silicon anodes. A silicon anode has 10x the theoretical storage capacity of a conventional carbon anode.

Anodes constructed from silicon have yet to receive wide commercial adoption due primarily to the mechanical failure from swelling they experience during a battery's charge/discharge cycles. Advanced technologies, such as silicon nanowires and silicon spheres, have been developed to overcome the swelling problem but they are either challenging to cost effectively manufacture or only allow for a limited number of recharge cycles.