NEO Battery Materials Ltd. (TSX-V:NBM) has initiated the detailed design of its silicon anode commercial plant in South Korea, and is in the process of selecting manufacturers of equipment with long lead times.
Vancouver-based NEO Battery Materials has also filed a patent regarding a key silicon anode material technology, in aid of building a robust international patent portfolio.
NEO completed the basic manufacturing design of the plant in July and is working to complete the detailed design, including all devices, piping, electrical systems, and controls in October.
READ: NEO Battery says South Korean subsidiary to get Series A C$3M strategic investment from Automobile & PCB for first phase of commercial plant
Through a cooperation with the provincial government of Gyeonggi in South Korea, NEO is in the process of receiving construction-related permits for the commercial plant. After selecting a contractor, construction work will commence at the Oseong International Investment Zone in Pyeongtaek City, Gyeonggi-do.
Following the patent application filed to the Korean Intellectual Property Office in October 2021, NEO has now filed this key silicon anode technology patent to the World Intellectual Property Organization.
The patent refers to the nanocoating layers on silicon particles to prevent volumetric expansion problem and to enhance the electrical conductivity of the silicon anode during the charging and discharging mechanism of batteries.
NEO is producing silicon anode materials through its proprietary single-step nanocoating process, which provides improvements in capacity and efficiency over lithium-ion batteries that use graphite in their anode materials. NEO intends to become a silicon anode active materials supplier to the electric vehicle industry.
Contact the author at susie@proactiveinvestors.com