Partnership to develop carbon-based battery technology

The global lithium-ion battery market is forecast to increase to US$130 billion by 2028¹ with growth concentrated in the Asia–Pacific region. Lithium-ion battery devices service a number of growing market segments including:

• transportation and mobility (electric vehicles),
• mobile devices and computing,
• intermittent renewable energy sources.

Archer Exploration Limited and UNSW have now partnered with an aim to develop and implement Archer’s graphite and graphene materials for use in energy storage system applications.

The primary focus of the collaboration is on the design of high-performance electrodes for lithium-ion batteries using graphite and graphene sourced from Archer’s Campoona deposit. The work is expected to result in the development of electrodes for lithium-ion batteries and the implementation of these electrodes in a number of advanced application full-cell and half-cell configurations. The graphite and graphene-based materials developed would be tailored electronically, chemically and structurally for mobile and stationary device applications.

Commenting on the new agreements, Archer Exploration CEO Dr Mohammad Choucair said: “Archer now enjoys a unique relationship with UNSW and facilities within the university, including those in the Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre. This centre, unique in its diversity in Australia, comprises AU$100 million of state-of-the-art characterisation equipment, managed by over 80 instrument scientists ready to engage and drive research projects within Archer.

Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre.

“The centre has a broad range of capabilities that fulfil our aims to participate in the integration of advanced materials in battery technologies that will provide future opportunities and new markets to underpin the development of Archer’s substantial graphite resources.”

Reference:

1. IDTechEx, October 2017, Li-ion Batteries 2018-2028 From raw materials to new materials, through gigafactories and emerging markets, accessed 18 April 2018, <https://www.idtechex.com/research/reports/li-ion-batteries-2018-2028-000557.asp>.