NEO Battery Materials Ltd., a developer of low-cost silicon anode materials for enhancing lithium-ion batteries, is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with OCSiAl LLC (“OCSiAl”), the world’s largest industrial producer of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Under this MOU, OCSiAl will supply NEO with SWCNT products to produce a high-specification model of NEO’s polymer-coated silicon anodes. There are no material terms or financial considerations associated with this MOU.
By integrating single-wall carbon nanotubes, NEO aims to advance three critical metrics: battery cycling stability, initial specific capacity, and coulombic efficiency. The primary applications targeted are electric vehicles and electronics, sectors where enhanced battery longevity and energy efficiency are in increasing demand.
OCSiAl’s SWCNTs, marketed under the brand TUBALL™, are recognized as some of the most advanced carbonaceous materials. Even at ultralow concentrations, TUBALL™ demonstrates high conductivity, flexibility, and mechanical strength. Notably, the addition of these nanotubes to silicon anodes can potentially extend battery cycle life by up to four times. Under the MOU, OCSiAl’s TUBALL™ will serve both as a conductive additive and as coating material to reinforce the structural and electrochemical properties of NEO’s silicon anodes.
Andrej Seniut, Head of OCSiAl Energy Projects, commented, “The battery industry increasingly recognizes single-wall carbon nanotubes as an indispensable component in various battery technologies, particularly in silicon anodes. We’re witnessing a growing number of clients worldwide adopting this technology. NEO’s approach to silicon anode manufacturing promises to reduce the cost of silicon anode materials, which is crucial for greater adoption in lithium-ion EV batteries. As a former start-up ourselves, OCSiAl supports innovative companies and wishes NEO success in their research.”
Spencer Huh, Director, President, and CEO of NEO, stated, “Our partnership with OCSiAl underscores NEO’s mission to pioneer silicon innovations that enhance the capabilities of lithium-ion batteries. OCSiAl’s expertise in SWCNT technology directly complements our silicon anode research and our continued efforts to utilize CNTs as an enhancing material. We are confident that this collaboration will bring us closer to realizing anodes that deliver higher capacity and stability for our downstream partners.”
About OCSiAl LLC
OCSiAl is the world’s sole industrial producer of single-wall carbon nanotubes, branded as TUBALL™. Headquartered in Luxembourg, the company employs around 400 people globally and operates in 20 countries. Recently, OCSiAl opened its first European production facility in Serbia, initially capable of producing 60 tonnes of SWCNTs annually. This production volume is sufficient to enhance up to 65 GWh of lithium-ion batteries or one million electric vehicles.
About NEO Battery Materials Ltd.
NEO Battery Materials is a Canadian battery materials technology company focused on developing silicon anode materials for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, electronics, and energy storage systems. With a patent-protected, low-cost manufacturing process, NEO enables longer-running and ultra-fast charging batteries compared to existing technologies. The company aims to become a global leader in silicon anode materials for the electric vehicle and energy storage industries.
Source: NEO Battery
