UP Catalyst, a prominent nanotechnology company, recently announced that it has secured € 1.5 M to make carbon materials from CO2 for batteries.
This initiative specifically addresses key challenges in carbon manufacturing. The two-year project, financially supported by EAS-Enterprise Estonia, aims to generate high-purity carbon from CO2 for battery applications.
Based in Tallinn, UP Catalyst utilizes the Molten Salt Carbon Capture and Electrochemical Transformation (MSCC-ET) method to create carbon nanomaterials and graphite. Graphite constitutes half of an electric vehicle’s battery weight and plays a crucial role in the battery anode. However, Europe heavily depends on imports, reaching up to 500,000 tons annually, posing a risk to local supply.
Another essential carbon variant widely used in battery electrodes is carbon nanotubes (CNTs), offering several advantages, such as faster charging and discharging rates, increased energy density, and enhanced durability.
Recognizing the environmental impact of traditional production methods, UP Catalyst sought to develop an eco-friendly and energy-efficient solution using CO2, surpassing existing limitations. Despite this, the challenge of producing the greenest and purest carbon materials persists, prompting ongoing improvements to align with the best industry practices.
UP Catalyst’s Research and Development team introduced an innovative concept inspired by methods prevalent in the aluminium industry. The objective is to prevent corrosion in vessel structures, achieving low impurity and metal levels. This breakthrough ensures a parts-per-million (ppm) level of impurities, crucial for top-tier energy storage applications.
The project is scheduled to commence on October 1, 2023, and conclude on September 30, 2025. The technology scale-up aims to secure the world’s first CO2-negative supply of battery-grade carbon, with UP Catalyst planning to establish its inaugural industrial unit in subsequent phases.