Battery cathode active materials (CAM) developer Nano One Materials has conducted research with chemical manufacturing company Worley Chemetics to demonstrate the economic benefits of Nano One's patented One-Pot process for producing lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathodes .
Comparative analysis has shown that One Pot can reduce the total capital costs and operating costs of two 25,000-ton plants per year by at least 30%, while using up to 80% less energy than the existing method. One-Pot also eliminates sodium sulphate waste water, and can use up to 80% recycled water.
The One-Pot process eliminates the iron and phosphate precursor (pCAM) steps by combining them with the lithium addition step (CAM) in a highly efficient heating process. These features reduce complexity, cost, steps and energy consumption, which should make it easier to site, permit, build and operate the plant.
Nano One and Worley also finalized the modular plant design and accelerated the engineering and qualification of vendor equipment to complete the LFP CAM Technology Package.
Worley and Nano One entered into a strategic alliance and license agreement in May 2024, and jointly develop, market and license the LFP CAM Package.
Nano One acquired an LFP manufacturing facility in Candiac, Quebec from Johnson Matthey in the fourth quarter of 2022, which serves as a launch site for Nano One and Worley's “design-one-build-many” license. Capacity expansion at the facility is supported in part by a $12.9-million award from the US Department of Defense announced in September 2024, while design and manufacturing of the equipment is supported in part by a C$2.8-million award from Next Generation Manufacturing Canada. (NGEN).
“We are working closely with Nano One on initial sales efforts while developing a comprehensive LFP CAM technology package for potential licensees,” said Laura Leonard, Worley Group President of Technology Solutions.
Source: Nano One