Grant: Alliance Grants

The capacity of the current supply chain of raw materials such as cobalt, lithium and natural graphite can not keep up with the fast-expanding demand for lithium-Ion batteries. Emerging sodium-ion batteries will alleviate the unsustainable demand of critical materials used to make lithium-Ion batteries and provide a lower cost alternative that has high availability and low environmental impacts, as compared to Li used in Lithium-Ion batteries. This proposal is aimed to develop hard carbons for lithium-ion-batteries and sodium-ion batteries using Alberta Oilsands waste hydrocarbons. Specifically, the project will 1) form a Canada-Germany collaboration from raw material supply to urgent R&D, production and supply of critical battery materials, 2) focus on creating sustainable processes and materials, 3) provide training of highly qualified personnel for the battery industry, 4) create new industrial sectors that will bring benefits to Canada and Germany regarding employment, supply chain safety and sustainable economy growth. The team in this proposal consists of highly experienced researchers who are well fitted to manage the entire value chain of the HC business; Our diverse individual skillsets and areas of study complement each other to create an efficient and well-managed team.