ADVANCES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF LAC KNIFE NATURAL FLAKE SOURCES

Transcription

1 ADVANCES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF LAC KNIFE NATURAL FLAKE AND EXPANDED GRAPHITE 34th International IN ELECTROCHEMICAL Battery Seminar POWER SOURCES March 20 to 23, 2017 Dr. Joseph E. Doninger, Director of Manufacturing and Technology Gary Economo, President and CEO

2 Lac Knife Graphite Project

3 OUTLINE v Introduction of Superfine Grade of Lac Knife Graphite v Results from Extended Long Term Cycling Tests v Conductivity of Lac Knife Flake and Expanded Graphite v Future Development Plans

4 INTRODUCTION OF SUPERFINE GRADE OF LAC KNIFE GRAPHITE Lac Knife Purified Flake Graphite Superfine Grade of Spherical Graphite

5 Fig.1 INITIAL GALVANOSTATIC CHARGE- DISCHARGE DCURVES 50 = 11.9μm FOR SUPERFINE GRADE OF 2.5 COATED SPG First Charge 2.0 First discharge ICL: 1.19% mah/g Voltage, V Specific Capacity, mah/g mah/g Cell #1449. CR2016, counter: Li; Graphite: Superfine Grade Surface Coated SPG; Rate: C/20; Electrolyte 1M LiPF6 in FEC/EMC (30:70 vol%)

6 Fig. 2 PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTIONS OF SUPERFINE, FINE AND STANDARD GRADES OF LAC KNIFE SPG Superfine SPG D 50 = 11.9μm Range: µm Fine Grade SPG D 50 = 17.4μm Range: µm Standard Grade SPG D 50 = 23.9μm Range: µm

7 Table 1 COMPARISON OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL PERFORMANCE OF THREE GRADES OF LAC KNIFE SPHERICAL GRAPHITE (SPG) Focus Graphite Cell Test Samples Reversible Capacity (mah/g) Irreversible Capacity Loss % Surface Area (m 2 /g) Standard Carbon Coated SPG Grade (D 50 =23.9μm) % 0.48 Fine Carbon Coated SPG Grade (D 50 =17.4μm) % 1.14 Superfine Carbon Coated SPG Grade (D 50 =11.9μm) % 0.89 Note that the high Reversible Capacity of 360 mah/g, low Irreversible Capacity Loss of 1.19% and low surface area of 0.89 m 2 /g for the new Superfine Grade of spherical graphite compare very favorably with the standard and fine grades

8 EXTENDED LONG TERM CYCLING TESTS OF LAC KNIFE GRAPHITE 20mm

9 Fig. 3 LONG TERM CYCLING PERFORMANCE OF LAC KNIFE GRAPHITE COMPARED WITH TWO COMMERCIAL Li ION GRADES OF FLAKE GRAPHITE 400 Approx. 0% loss Specific Capacity, mah/g Spheronized Coated Standard Grade of Purified Lac Knife Graphite (Focus Graphite, Inc.) Commercial Lithium-Ion Battery Grade of Purified Coated Spheronized Natural Flake Graphite (Supplier #2) Commercial Lithium-Ion Battery Grade of Purified Coated Spheronized Natural Flake Graphite (Supplier #1) % loss 4.4% loss Anodes were tested in CR2016 coin cells prepared with 1M LiPF6/EC/DMC electrolyte and Li foil reference/counter electrodes. Cycle Number

10 Fig. 4 EXTENDED LONG TERM CYCLING PERFORMANCE OF LAC KNIFE GRAPHITE COMPARED WITH TWO COMMERCIAL GRADES OF COATED SPHERICAL GRAPHITE Lac Knife Charge Capacity Lac Knife Discharge Capacity Supplier Discharge Capacity #1 Specific Capacity mah/g Supplier Discharge Capacity #2 11.7% loss 10.5% 4.5% Coin cells were cycled between and 1.5 volts. Formation was carried out with C/10 current density and cycling was carried out at the same voltage limits at C/10

11 ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF LAC KNIFE GRAPHITE Lac Knife Purified Flake Graphite Lac Knife Expanded Graphite

12 SCOPE OF EXPANDED RESISTIVITY STUDIES Battery Formulations Tested LiNiCoO 2 (Lithium Ion Batteries) Zn/MnO 2 (Alkaline Batteries) Graphites Evaluated Flake Graphite Lac Knife Purified Grades, D 50 = 21, 16, 10 & 7μm Commercial Purified Grade, D 50 = 6 & 9.5μm Lac Knife Expanded Grades, D 50 = 21, 15.8 & 3.5μm Commercial Expanded Grade, D 50 = 9.5μm Synthetic Graphite Commercial Li Ion Grade, D 50 = 3.5μm Commercial Alkaline Grade, D 50 = 9μm Carbon Black Added to Cathode Mixes 4% in Li Ion Mix 0% in Alkaline Mix

13 Fig. 5 RESISTIVITIES OF LAC KNIFE AND COMMERCIAL GRAPHITES IN Li ION CATHODE MATRIX LiNiMnCoO 2 Premium Quality Synthetic Graphite, D 50 = 3.5 μm Commercial Flake Graphite, D 50 = 6 μm Lac Knife Expanded Graphite, D 50 = 15.8 μm Lac Knife Expanded Graphite, D 50 = 3.5 μm Lowest Resistivity/Highest Conductivity

14 Fig. 6 RESISTIVITIES OF LAC KNIFE FLAKE AND COMMERCIAL GRAPHITES IN ALKALINE CATHODE MATRIX MnO 2 v v Lac Knife Flake Graphite D 50 = 21 μm Lac Knife Flake Graphite D 50 = 16 μm Commercial Flake Graphite D 50 = 9.5 μm Lac Knife Flake Graphite, D 50 = 10 μm Commercial Synthetic Graphite, D 50 = 9 μm Lac Knife Flake Graphite, D 50 = 7 μm

15 Fig. 7 RESISTIVITIES OF LAC KNIFE AND COMMERCIAL EXPANDED GRAPHITES IN ALKALINE CATHODE MATRIX: MnO 2 v Lac Knife Expanded Graphite, D 50 = 21 μm Lac Knife Expanded Graphite, D 50 = μm Commercial Expanded Graphite, D 50 = 9.5 μm Lac Knife Expanded Graphite, D 50 = 3.5 μm

16 FUTURE LAC KNIFE DEVELOPMENT PLANS Batteries Conduct extended long term cycling tests to cycles Develop new grade of SPG for use in high power applications Develop silicon modified graphite for high capacity applications Continue work on the use of expanded graphite in cathodes Mining and Processing Continue working with Quebec Gov t to obtain permits required under the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (EISA) Ready to proceed with detailed engineering Continue work on the design of the specialty products plant Commercial Negotiations continuing on off-take agreements Project financing discussions ongoing

17 DISCLAIM ER This presentation contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All information contained herein that is not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Generally, such forwardlooking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: (i) volatile stock price; (ii) the general global markets and economic conditions; (iii) the possibility of write-downs and impairments; (iv) the risk associated with exploration, development and operations of mineral deposits; (v) the risk associated with establishing title to mineral properties and assets; (vi)the risks associated with entering into joint ventures; (vii) fluctuations in commodity prices; (viii) the risks associated with uninsurable risks arising during the course of exploration, development and production; (ix) competition faced by the resulting issuer in securing experienced personnel and financing; (x) access to adequate infrastructure to support mining, processing, development and exploration activities; (xi) the risks associated with changes in the mining regulatory regime governing the resulting issuer; (xii) the risks associated with the various environmental regulations the resulting issuer is subject to; (xiii) risks related to regulatory and permitting delays; (xiv) risks related to potential conflicts of interest; (xv) the reliance on key personnel; (xvi) liquidity risks; (xvii) the risk of potential dilution through the issue of common shares; (xviii) the Company does not anticipate declaring dividends in the near term;(xix) the risk of litigation; and (xx) risk management. Forward-looking information is based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made, including but not limited to, continued exploration activities, no material adverse change in metal prices, exploration and development plans proceeding in accordance with plans and such plans achieving their stated expected outcomes, receipt of required regulatory approvals, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information has been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company s business, operations and exploration plans and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forwardlooking information is made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update such forwardlooking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

18 THANK YOU Dr. Joseph E. Doninger PhD, MSc, BSc. Director of Manufacturing and Technology T +1 (224) E jdoninger@focusgraphite.com Focus Graphite Inc. 945 Princess St. Kingston, Ontario K7M 0E9 CANADA T +1 (613) E info@focusgraphite.com W