Nexeon, a UK-based developer of silicon-based anode supplies for lithium-ion batteries, has introduced the placement for its first industrial manufacturing facility within the South Korean industrial metropolis of Gunsan.
Development is anticipated to start this yr, with manufacturing scheduled to start out in 2025. The plant is anticipated to provide “tens of 1000’s of tons” of silicon anode materials yearly, however the firm has not but revealed its focused manufacturing capability.
The Nexeon plant will likely be situated in Gunsan proper subsequent to a website owned by South Korean chemical firm OCI, with which Nexeon has a binding long-term provide settlement for the monosilane wanted to provide its silicon anode supplies. OCI will provide the vital uncooked materials to Nexeon’s new manufacturing line through “direct, devoted pipelines between amenities.”
Nexeon and OCI haven’t disclosed the quantities within the provide settlement however have famous that Nexeon expects monumental price benefits from the instant neighborhood. One such benefit is that the 2 corporations are utilizing a byproduct fuel that’s generated within the manufacturing of polysilicon for semiconductors on the Gunsan plant. This could allow each corporations to keep away from “complicated and costly logistics operations and gear for the transport of fuel chemical compounds.”
One other deal not too long ago undertaken in Germany equally illustrates how vital monosilane is for the manufacturing of silicon-containing anodes: To safe its provide of the fuel, Nexeon competitor Group14 not too long ago acquired German firm Schmid Silicon and its plant within the German state of Saxony.
Nexeon simply introduced Panasonic as its first outstanding purchaser a number of days in the past. The anode materials from Nexeon will likely be used within the lithium-ion batteries that Panasonic will produce in its new plant in De Soto within the US state of Kansas from 2025 onwards.
“The collaboration with OCI is a major milestone that can assist quickly scale our operations,” mentioned Scott Brown, CEO of Nexeon. “Between securing a powerful provide chain of uncooked materials and our provide settlement with Panasonic,we’re one step nearer to delivering the very best performing and cost-efficient silicon anode supplies – an important enabler of extra energy-dense batteries.”
nexeon.co.uk