Altech Chemicals Ltd Collaboration Agreement with leading Silicon Co

Perth, Australia (ABN Newswire) - Altech Chemicals Limited (ASX:ATC) (FRA:A3Y) is pleased to announce that the Company has signed a collaboration agreement with a leading silicon producer to collaborate in developing a high capacity, long cycle life silicon anode active material targeted for use in lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.

The silicon company is a leading producer of silicon metal with a proven ability to create new solutions and applications using state-of-the-art technology to drive innovation. It has technologies to produce high purity grade silicon with the flexibility to offer customised solutions to meet the increasing demands being placed on silicon from new applications such as the Li-ion battery; and is specifically developing tailor made silicon powders for the anode of Li-ion batteries. Alumina coating of silicon particles have the potential to solve the three major issues for silicon application in the Li-ion battery: expansion induce fragmentation, poor cyclability; and low initial Coulombic Efficiency (CE). A combination of the competencies and technologies of both companies offers tremendous potential and a potentially compelling solution for the industry.

At the recent battery day, electric car company, Tesla announced its goal to leverage silicon anode technology and to manufacture Li-ion batteries internally. The company stated that silicon solutions should be expected to dominate the battery market over the next five to seven years, as silicon has almost ten times the (theoretical) capacity compared to carbon-based materials, at some 3500mAh/g. Next to its superior electrochemical performance, silicon is also the most abundant material on earth after oxygen, eliminating potential shortage issues. However, there are currently three key impediments to be overcome in order to propel silicon's commercial application in Li-ion battery applications:

- Intrinsic volume changes of 300% or more during battery charge and discharge, leads to poor cyclability performance;

- Unstable formation of solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) due to interaction between Si surface and electrolyte.

- Low Initial Coulombic Efficiency (CE), that is, high capacity loss on first battery cycle.

Altech is developing Anode Grade HPA and coating technology for the purpose of applying the coating to graphite particles that are typical of those currently used in the anode of the Li-ion battery. Both companies believe that the same technology can be applied to Silicon Co's Li-ion battery silicon powders.

Under the collaboration agreement, both companies will analyse the possibility of using Altech's HPA and technology to coat specifically designed silicon particles supplied by the silicon company. Altech will supply the coating technology and sole fund the test work.

Key terms of the agreement
Parties: Altech Chemicals Limited and Silico Ferrosolar, S.L.U
Term: 1 year
Termination: 30 days notice
Development Costs: Altech Chemicals Limited

About Altech Chemicals Ltd:

Altech Chemicals Limited (ASX:ATC) (FRA:A3Y) is aiming to become one of the world's leading suppliers of 99.99% (4N) high purity alumina (Al2O3) through the construction and operation of a 4,500tpa high purity alumina (HPA) processing plant at Johor, Malaysia. Feedstock for the plant will be sourced from the Company's 100%-owned kaolin deposit at Meckering, Western Australia and shipped to Malaysia.

HPA is a high-value, high margin and highly demanded product as it is the critical ingredient required for the production of synthetic sapphire. Synthetic sapphire is used in the manufacture of substrates for LED lights, semiconductor wafers used in the electronics industry, and scratch-resistant sapphire glass used for wristwatch faces, optical windows and smartphone components. Increasingly HPA is used by lithium-ion battery manufacturers as the coating on the battery's separator, which improves performance, longevity and safety of the battery. With global HPA demand approximately 19,000t (2018), it is estimated that this demand will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30% (2018-2028); by 2028 HPA market demand will be approximately 272,000t, driven by the increasing adoption of LEDs worldwide as well as the demand for HPA by lithium-ion battery manufacturers to serve the surging electric vehicle market.

Source:
Altech Chemicals Ltd

Contact:

Corporate
Iggy Tan
Managing Director
Altech Chemicals Limited
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Shane Volk
Company Secretary
Altech Chemicals Limited
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Investor Relations (Europe)
Kai Hoffmann
Soar Financial Partners
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