Technology

Battery demand is increasing exponentially as the world drives to Carbon Zero.

The demand for batteries is expected to increase 10x by 2030 due to climate change driving the move to renewable energy and electric vehicles^. The GWh demand from EVs alone is forecast to grow more than five times by 2025, and more than 50 times by 2040.

^Electric Vehicle Outlook 2020’, BloombergNEF (Bloomberg Finance L.P.)

EVs & e-mobility

Global climate change targets are driving a once-in-a-century shift to electric vehicles: cars, trucks, buses and more.

Aviation & drone technology

Safe, light batteries with a high energy density are critical to make e-aviation viable.

Consumer devices & the 'Internet of Things'

Demand is expected to nearly double in the next ten years.

Meanwhile, lithium ion battery technology cannot improve significantly

Li‑ion batteries can’t be made significantly smaller or lighter and fast charging times and cycle life are also reaching their limits.

This means there needs to be a breakthrough in battery technology to drive clean energy innovation and adoption.

Put simply — the world needs a better battery.

Our solution:
lithium sulfur technology

In the past,  lithium sulfur batteries failed to reach commercialisation because the cells had a poor cycle life, having to be replaced too often. There was something missing — we made it our mission to find the answer.

Our secret?

We embed unique nanomaterials — Boron Nitride Nanotubes (BNNTs), and a new nano-composite we invented called Li‑nanomesh™ — into the cells to enhance their strength, life cycle and performance.

Why lithium sulfur?

Lithium sulfur is superior to lithium ion in many ways.

Greater capacity

More than twice the gravimetric energy density and improved volumetric energy density compared to Li-ion

Lighter weight

Meaning drones, electric planes and EVs can travel twice as far with the same weight

Cleaner & greener*

No nickel, cobalt or manganese means reduced mining and disposal impacts

*Comparative life cycle assessment of Li-Sulphur and Li-ion batteries for electric vehicles report. Benveniste et al, 2022.

Lithium metal batteries

In addition to our breakthrough lithium sulfur technology, our scientists are able to use the same Li-nanomesh™ nanocomposite to enhance a second revolutionary battery: lithium metal.

This battery type has a unique advantage in that while it doesn’t quite match the energy density of lithium sulfur, it can accommodate higher power draws — a quality favoured by electric cars, scooters and multi-prop drones.

BNNT — the game-changing nano material

Boron Nitride Nanotubes (BNNTs) are an advanced nanomaterial  with unique physical properties. NASA has identified it as a key nanomaterial that may even help humans reach Mars, due to its strength and radiation absorption properties.  We take advantage of its physical strength, thermal conductivity and electrical resistance as well as some unique electrochemical properties to enhance our lithium sulfur and lithium metal batteries

Historically, BNNTs have been very difficult to make in high purities and at high volume — and were expensive — so were disregarded as a solution for many real-world problems, including battery electrochemistry.

However, in 2020 Australian company BNNTTL successfully commissioned a high volume BNNT production facility, commercialising Deakin University’s patented BNNT manufacturing technology and know-how.

Now, through our partnership with BNNTTL, Li-S Energy not only has all the BNNT required to commercialise Li-S technology, but also exclusive distribution rights to sell BNNTs to other battery manufacturers.

A stylised diagram shows the layers of a lithium sulfur battery