A manufacturing process being developed by Australian materials company Adoxima is undergoing research in Newcastle to determine whether it can be extended to the production of high-purity alumina used in lithium-ion batteries and other advanced technologies.
Researchers at the University of Newcastle are working with Adoxima through a TRaCE R&D Voucher project led by Laureate Professor Ajayan Vinu.
Adoxima has developed a proprietary process known as Disordered Nano Cluster technology for producing advanced materials, including boehmite.
The Newcastle project is investigating whether Adoxima’s boehmite can provide a pathway to producing high-purity alumina, rather than assuming the technology can already produce the material to the specifications required.
High-purity alumina, or HPA, has applications including lithium-ion batteries, semiconductors, LED lighting and other advanced industrial products.
Testing whether the material meets the standard
A major part of the research will be determining the characteristics of the material produced through the process.
University researchers will characterise the material and optimise thermal processing conditions, with the aim of producing HPA that meets required quality, performance and consistency benchmarks.
The work will also identify potential sources of contamination during manufacturing and investigate how they could be reduced.
TRaCE said the project is expected to deliver a technical and techno-feasibility assessment that could inform future decisions about scaling the process.
This testing is important because Adoxima says its technology can replace toxic solvents and harsh processing conditions used in conventional alumina production.
The current project will investigate the potential production pathway and provide technical evidence about the resulting material.
Battery applications under investigation
The research could also help determine whether greater control over alumina particle size has benefits for battery manufacturing.
Adoxima’s process is designed to control particle size at the nanoscale.
TRaCE said finer and more uniform alumina powders are expected to improve the thermal performance and lifespan of ceramic coatings used in batteries, but those potential benefits are yet to be investigated further through the project.
Ceramic coatings are one application for high-purity alumina within lithium-ion battery production.
The work therefore provides a direct connection between materials research being undertaken in Newcastle and the development of technologies for the battery supply chain.
Independent testing supports development
The collaboration has been supported through TRaCE and AusTestBed, a program delivered by EnergyLab and New Energy Nexus to give Australian battery and energy-storage startups access to independent testing facilities.
Adoxima is one of three companies selected for the first AusTestBed pilot.
Each company receives a $50,000 testing voucher to access Australian research facilities and generate independent performance data intended to help determine how its technology performs as it moves towards commercial deployment.
Adoxima CEO Kris Collopy said the program would allow the company to generate data needed for further development of its technology.
“The AusTestBed program provides Adoxima with access to the funding and facilities required to further develop and strengthen our core IP.”
For the Newcastle project, the immediate task is narrower: establishing whether Adoxima’s existing materials technology can provide a viable route to HPA and whether the resulting material can meet the required specifications, potentially at scale.
