Understanding the role of impurities in Made-in-Canada cathode active materials for automotive lithium-ion batteries

The reliance on raw materials from overseas to build lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is a major concern for automotive companies building battery electric vehicles in North America. Canada’s rich Ni deposits is a potential solution to this problem. However, Canadian Ni ore are sulfides, so battery manufacturers are reluctance to use it due to possible trace impurities (e.g. Fe). Thus, this project is focused on demonstrating the viability of NMC cathode active materials (CAM) using Ni ore sourced only from Canada. Through a series of chemical reactions, the Ni ore will then be converted to a state-of-the-art NMC composition. The yield and purity/quality of product will be optimized during each step to enhance performance. The final product will be benchmarked for cell performance against commercial CAMs. This project will demonstrate a viable and scalable domestic pathway for Canadian Ni ore to power large scale battery electric vehicle manufacturing in Canada.

Faculty Supervisor:

Brad Easton

Student:

Partner:

Flex-Ion Battery Innovation Center

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Program: