Manganese can be part of the solution to lithium-ion batteries’ low energy density and capacity and prevent supply constraints risks of other elements such as cobalt, Lithium Australia said last week.

Company’s managing director Adrian Griffin said in a statement sent to Kallanish that Lithium Australia’s subsidiary VSPC has already put manganese into lithium ferrro phosphate (LFP) to create a lithium manganese ferro phosphate (LMFP)-type lithium-ion battery “with promising results.”

Through its patented cathode-powder production technology, VSPC has produced battery cells at its R&D facility in Brisbane. Compared to their LFP counterparts, these battery cells showed capacity increases of up to 25%, says Griffin.

The cells provide a safe, low-cost and long-life alternative to nickel cobalt aluminium (NCA) and nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) types, he notes, adding that manufacturers in China are pursuing higher efficiency in line with what VSPC already achieved.

Over 75% of cobalt is produced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, subject to conflicts, human rights violations and environmental risks. This is prompting many battery and car manufacturers in Europe and elsewhere to seek the reduction of cobalt content in their supply chain.