:: MGX Minerals Announces Breakthrough in Development of High-Energy Lithium-Ion Batteries

MGX Minerals Inc. has reported that its collaborative research partnership with the University of British Columbia (“UBC”) has successfully developed a novel hybrid organic-inorganic material for use in engineering silicon interfaces. These interfaces will prove critical in achieving a highly efficient, long-lasting silicon anode that will aide in the development of next generation lithium-ion batteries capable of quadrupling energy density from the current standard of 100 Wh/kg up to 400 Wh/kg for use in long-range electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage.

In addition to developing silicon interfaces, MGX and UBC are also currently conducting process optimization on metallurgical grade silicon. The goal is to utilize low-cost metallurgical-grade silicon as a feedstock to fabricate nanostructured silicon.

The overall objective of the MGX/UBC two-year research program is to develop a low-cost and scalable method that will fabricate a silicon-based anode to improve the energy density of Li-ion batteries. Dr. Jian Liu, Assistant Professor in the School of Engineering at UBC Okanagan, is leading a research group focused on advanced materials for energy storage. Dr. Liu was previously the technical lead for development of surface coating materials by atomic and molecular layer deposition, and their applications in surface and interface engineering on the anode and cathode of Li-ion batteries and beyond, at Western University and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.