Ilika Plc (LON:IKA) CEO Graeme Purdy talks to DirectorsTalk about a collaboration with Johnson Matthey. Graeme explains the objective of the collaboration, more about Johnson Matthey, the difference between lithium sulphur batteries and the Stereax batteries launched in April and it’s uses and how Ilika will be contributing to the project.
Zeus Capital said: Ilika’s announcement this morning that it has been selected as a key technology partner in an Innovate UK funded, Johnson Matthey (“JM”) led program, to develop advanced anodes for Lithium Sulphur batteries is extremely positive. As well as a modest cash injection for Ilika, the announcement is relevant for the following reasons:
i. It shows Ilika’s revenue generative materials R&D function for large, blue-chip technology corporate clients continues to run smoothly. The company has shifted its strategic emphasis in recent times to focus on the commercialization of its own Stereax™ solid-state batteries. This agreement shows the company is still successfully operating its core, world-class, materials discovery and optimisation IP generating platform.
ii. JM is a global speciality chemicals company and a leader in sustainable technologies. The fact that it has selected Ilika for this program is evidence that Ilika is successfully developing the reputation as a centre of excellence, knowledge and innovation in the global battery industry.
iii. It is evidence that JM are increasingly getting involved in, and investing in, the battery space. Lithium Sulphur batteries are being looked at for high-capacity, low-cost applications, including the large-scale storage of renewable energy. This program to look at developing advanced anodes for this battery class is another sign of JM moving into the battery space.
Zeus Capital Dr Tom McColm caught up with DirectorsTalk and explains the importance of Ilika’s RNS.
The full announcement read as follows:
Ilika Plc (LON: IKA), a pioneer in materials innovation and solid-state battery technology, announces that it is taking part in a three-year project to develop protected anodes for lithium sulphur batteries, led by Johnson Matthey Plc and supported by Innovate UK and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). £365,133 of the grant will be used to fund project activities at Ilika.
Johnson Matthey Plc is a global speciality chemicals company and a leader in sustainable technologies. Using its expertise in chemistry and advanced materials, the company develops a range of high value added, high technology products and services, including high performance battery systems. Other partners in the project are Williams Grand Prix Engineering Ltd, the University of Oxford and the University of Warwick.
This project will develop an innovative protected lithium anode approach, via Ilika’s high-throughput materials development technique, to discover new electrolyte composition options and fabricate a free-standing, lithium-containing protected anode/separator for integration into pouch cells. The novel protected anode will mitigate a commonly experienced problem in lithium-sulphur cells, the so-called polysulphide shuttle effect, leading to enhanced performance cells that can be made with existing cell fabrication methods. The pouch cells being developed in this project are high capacity, low cost batteries for large scale renewable energy storage and therefore address a distinct market segment to the Internet of Things (IoT) applications for which Ilika’s StereaxTM batteries are designed.
Commenting on this grant award, Graeme Purdy, Ilika Plc CEO, said: “This project brings together international leading scientists and industrial partners with the resources, skills and experience to deliver and exploit this new concept. The partners have the know-how to design and develop new battery components and take them through to roll to roll electrode fabrication and pouch cell manufacture and evaluation.”
